OUR FOUNDER

Hello! I’m Rosa, the founder and owner of New Cabochons (previously New Stone Age Cabochons).

Growing up between Canada and Mexico, I was surrounded by stones and stories. My father was a lapidary artist, and I grew up helping him sell his creations at markets and gem shows. Through him, I learned a deeper lesson which is every stone connects people across distance, culture, and craft. Each stone carries a deeper meaning to each person.

In 2015, I followed my roots and turned my passion into my life’s work. What began as small tables at local markets evolved into a thriving business powered by organic growth on Instagram. We have had the pleasure of connecting with passionate jewellers, lapidary artists, and collectors worldwide.

Here, you are welcome to join a community of artisans and silversmiths who care about where their stones come from and who cuts them. We are a community of makers who care about our social and environmental impacts.

PAST TO PRESENT

Through some good luck and lots of hardwork and dedication we became one of the most consistent and trusted cabochon sellers on Instragram. At one point we did 6 Instagram sales a week! Our followers were heartbroken when in 2022 the co-founder of New Cabochons, Graeme Bousada, passed away suddenly. His helpful and fun demeanour will forever be remembered. Since then, we have found some new beginnings through the creation of this website.

We are proud to have evolved next to hundreds of artisans and silversmiths who have supported us since the beginning on Instagram. To everyone who has supported us since 2015. Thank you! Your choice to use our stones in your jewelry is an honour. To those discovering us for the first time: Welcome to a community that cares!

We’re honoured to be a small part of your creative journey, and we can’t wait to see what you make next with our stones. 

submit work with our stones here (for a chance to be featured on our blog)

With gratitude,
-Rosa

OUR ROOTS

A Journey of Connection

At the beginning of creating this business, I met Sandra in Southern Mexico. She had kind eyes and a quiet strength that instantly put me at ease. She told me about her father, who hand-cut all the amber she sold. Her story felt like a reflection of my own, a daughter selling her father's product.

I placed a small order that day, unaware that it would mark the beginning of something much bigger. It marked the beginning of a relationship that would grow into the backbone of the small business I was creating. 

As the years passed, our connection grew. One day, Sandra and her family invited me and my late husband, Graeme, to visit their home in southern Mexico. We accepted without hesitation.

Those days are etched in my memory. The scent of rain on the cobblestones, the laughter that spilled into the night. We visited the amber mines together and, with excitement and fear, walked into the dark tunnels in search of amber. We watched as the family hand-cut and polish amber in their small home workshop, each movement filled with patience and pride.

It was in those quiet moments that I formed a strong connection with this family and their product, and it meant something to me to sell it because I knew where it came form and who cut it. It had a story that became dear to my heart. A story that became part of my own.

Over ten years later, Sandra’s family remains at the centre of our story. They have become not just partners, but friends. Today, the majority of the cabochons we sell are cut in Sandra’s family workshop in Mexico. On occasion, we also work with other Mexican lapidary artists.

These stones mean more to us than their beauty. They carry a story of friendship and generational commitment to the art of lapidary. We are honoured that you have decided to work with our stones and we are humbled to be a small part of your jewelry story.

OUR COMMITMENT

Sourcing with care and cutting ethically

At New Cabochons, we believe that through connection and care, we create our best work and we act responsibly.

We call it sourcing with care. We are committed to transparency and traceability, not just as buzz words but because we truly care. We love small scale lapidary and the people behind the stones.

We admit that we have limited control on the gem industry but we can ensure that our lapidary artists are treated with respect and fairness. We promise to be truthful about where our stones come from, how they’re cut, and who cuts them.

The result is a product that you can feel good about. Gemstones that not not only unique but that you can feel proud about where they come from. Please ask us any detailed questions as we love to talk stones and the people behind them!