Cutting a stone into a cabochon (cab) attempts to render the beauty or unique features and colors of a particular type of rock. Typically made from semi-precious stone, a cabochon is cut, ground, sanded, and finally polished into a stone that is flat on the back and rounded on the face. A cab can take most any shape and size.

The finished cabochon makes a great contribution to any rock collection. Common displays such as 'rikers mounts' make an elegant way to collect and show your collection. However, the most common buyers of cabochons are jewelry makers. Wire wrapping and metal smithing are common methods for mounting and enjoying a polished stone.