Lately, a quiet coup de coeur has returned me to the Cabochon gem. Sauntering in, pumpkin spice latte in hand and dazzling as ever, the personality hire has entered the boardroom: cabochons.
Unbothered by convention, smooth and unfaceted.
I recently had a client meeting with a very well-dressed gallerist, we’re talking chic from head-to-toe, the understated handbag, perfect makeup and her beautiful sapphire cabochon instantly caught my eye. “I love it, it doesn’t show off, it just shows up”, she tells me. The cabochon doesn’t chase the light, but by God does it quietly own it.
The inclusions of the gem, do not deflect its beauty but adds contrast and a subtle chatoyance. For Emeralds, the inclusions or “jardin” as we call it, come in full view. It’s like looking through a window and it has so much character!
What experience does the personality hire even have?
Originally the darlings of ancient artisans, cabochons were loved for their honesty – no sharps, no smoke and mirrors. Cabochons either have it or they don’t. You get the gem as nature intended, polished to a dreamy sheen: colour and quality is all that matters.
The term ‘cabochon’, like all the best things, derives from the French ‘caboche’; meaning ‘head’ or ‘noggin’, which is a nod to the gem’s smooth, domed crown.
Long before the precision of faceting was ever imagined, ancient lapidaries in Egypt, Greece, and Rome were polishing stones into these glossy orbs to enhance their natural colour and depth.
During the Middle Ages, they adored ecclesiastic treasures and royal regalia alike, glowing softly in candlelight long before electricity demanded sparkle.
By the Renaissance, cutters began experimenting with facets, but the cabochon had already established itself as jewellery’s most common form.
Today, as individuality becomes luxury’s new currency, the cabochon feels just the right amount of disruptive. Its appeal lies precisely in its refusal to conform.
From there, the cabs (as we like to call it in the industry) have been in collections of all big names – Cartier’s Tutti Frutti pieces or Bulgari’s Diva’s Dream.
I must tell you that my favourite part of a cabochon is that there is something so deeply human about them. It’s sensual, not sterile; imperfect, yet undeniably self-assured.
Where do I find my personality hire?
Come over to my showroom at Stapylton-Smith where you can find my selection of Sapphires, Emeralds and other gems and book a consultation.
From the studio,
Guillaume Stapylton-Smith
0 comments