What are designer cabs?

But jewelers or wirewrappers who custom design their pieces want custom cut cabs, known as designer cabs. Wirewrappers especially love really unique shapes and can work them into one of a kind jewelry pieces. Cutting designer stones is definitely more difficult. Usually designer cabs are cut from rare, or more expensive designer gemstone materials. Designer cabs are cut in many different shapes; besides the standard flat bottomed and domed top, gem cabochons can be freeform, sculpted on top, or have a natural surface on top (Drusy). Designer cabs be cut into various unusual shapes like clouds, leaves, and stars. Sometimes the shape is dictated by the market, what shapes or sizes are in fashion. For those jewelers who are not purist who demand only natural stones, there are many current techniques on the market to enhance the designer stones. Some stones are dyed and some drusy crystals are coated with titanium or other substances that change the cut gemstone into stunning colors. Some cabs are carved, clear cabs may have a carving in the bottom or may just be hollowed out a little to let the light pass through. And some people do intarsia cabs. Intarsia is a technique of using tiny chips of stone to create patterns with multiple colors.