Multi purpose knife, lapidary compound

[ElementalBreakdown]

I am beyond satisfied with my Ukrainian diamond stropping compounds, but I was wondering if anyone has a progression to recommend that would work on both steel and softer materials like gems, precious metals, and natural treasure such as quahog (seashells).
Tripoli polish? If so, anyone have a brand they like?
Everything will succumb to diamond polish but I have cachobons and softer materials I would appreciate some advice on.

 

[ElementalBreakdown]

Anyone have something to add regarding any multipurpose rouge or tripoli compounds or anything?
Not specific brands necessarily, as is often the case, there's TOO MUCH information to wade through Googling it, hoping someone can help me narrow it down

 

[Another Shepherd]

The jewelers I know who do cabochons take three approaches:
1) Just use the cabbing machine without any abrasive compounds.
2) Use diamond abrasives on the leather wheel in a range of 12,000 to 30,000 grit.
3) Use a tumbler with some sort of abrasive powder if they are making dozens of cabochons. I do not know any details.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Compounds capable of polishing steel, especially stainless steel, might at times be too aggressive for polishing softer metals. This would include any compound as hard as aluminum oxide or harder (silicon carbide, diamond, cbn, etc.). In some cases, even green compound (chromium oxide) might also be too aggressive (too hard) for them. In particular, if any of the jewelry or precious items are plated in gold or silver, etc., compounds made for polishing steel will strip the plating off. So, in that respect, using polishes or cleaners actually made for the softer plated metals would be best for those.

Compounds like Flitz, Simichrome, etc, in aluminum oxide, usually come labeled with a warning NOT to use them on plated items, for the above reason. Any solid items in gold, silver, etc., could still be polished with those. But even then, they'd be much more aggressive than is necessary for soft precious metals. If the items are very thin, like the band on an old or antique wedding or engagement ring, for example, you'd want to preserve as much of the metal as you can. I mention this in thinking about my own mother's wedding ring (in white gold), which she wore for 67 years before she passed away. The inside edge of the band had worn very thin over all that time.