Cabochon stones (often shortened to "cabs" in the jewelry-making world) are shaped using a handcrafting technique called dopping (pronunciation: DAHP-ping). Dopping involves adhering the cab to a dowel or rod with a hard wax, creating the curved or beveled edges, then sanding and polishing the top into a uniform dome.

Why would a cabochon cut be used?

In asteriated stones such as star sapphires and chatoyant stones such as cat's eye chrysoberyl, a domed cabochon cut is used to show the star or eye, which would not be visible in a faceted cut.

Are cabochons real?

A "cabochon" is described as gemstone that is not faceted, but is cut into a convex and usually highly polished shape. ... Some people refer to these as "semi-precious stone" cabochons, but that is a misnomer as some of these materials are rarer and more valuable than diamonds and rubies!