Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-11-16
Diamonds in New York.
[From ibSNcw York Tribune'l

general prosperity, ana promises
soon to snrpasa foreign nations in
the prosecution of those arts which
they have always deemed their
specialtics. Until Il very recent
datc, Amsterdam has held tho mo.
nopoly ofthc business of cutting
and polishing diamonds, and by an
experience Of hundreds of yoars,
during which period generation af.
ter generation has been born and
educated in the art, that city has
attained nm almost worldwide re-
pown. Some years ago, however,
n firm in Boston became engaged
in the pursuit, and has met with
woll deserved success but thoir at
tention was chiefly directed toward
the repairing of diamonds, involv-
ing tho reforming ofthc stones, ,and
of course tho repolishing. 1t was
reserved for New York to go<into
tho business thoroughly, and much
to the satisfaction of the leading
jewelers. of the country, tho ven
ture has proved more than Success
ful.
Not long since several gentle
men of this city determined to or
ganizc q company having for its
object formation Of a diamond mar
kct hero. This was no small task.
1t required Il largo outlay ofcapital.
It was necessary that tho most ex-
perienced workmen in Amstel dam
should be induced to como to this
country to give the benefit Of their
experience. Machinery had to be
invented which should, if possible,
surpass in efficiency that used in
Amsterdam. These difficulties were
overcome the capital was obtain
cd. Hollandcrs of long practice
signifed their willingness to en-
bark in an enterprise which COM
mcnded itself to their common
sense. Machinery was invented
which fulflls the requirements of
tho business, and just year ago
the New York Diamond Company
began operations, having for pre-
sident Nr. Isaac Hernapn. The
process of preparing the diamonds
for use is Of single interest. The
business is divided into three dis
tirct branches, and such is the pro
ficiency necessary in each branch
that it is extremely seldom that u
workman ran tc found who is mas
ter Of all t!..oc.
The rough diamond is first hand
ed to tho ''clcavcr." He is expect
cd 10 soc in an instant where any
flaw in the stone is situated he
must be ablo to tell what parts
must be split off in order to get rid
of any flaw, and at the Same time
retain as much weight rs possible,
with the greatest brilliancy. Ho
calculates how much the clippings
will bc worth, whether they will
make small brilliants or rose dia-
monds, and having reached his do
cision he t;,stons tho stone in tho
end Of wooden stick, securing it
by cement made of rosin and
brisk dust. Another diamond, al
ready splita having n very sharp
edge, is served in like manner, and
with this he cuts q notch in the
diamond which lo is about to split.
This operation is performed over a
small box containing q sieve which
catches tho diamond dust. The
notch being made, the cleaver takes
q small steel rule, which he places
on tho Inc in the direction Of
which the cleavage should be mado.
Having, apparently, taken his aim,
he places tho ruler in tho notch,
and with enc or two quick taps
with stec rod the stone is split.
Heating the comcnt tho workman
removes the diamond; it has been
split that the flaw has been entire
ly removed. Tho diamond may be
worth hundreds, perhaps thou
sands of dollars And any Ignorance
or error on the part of the cleaver
might destroy for his employer
moro than they could recover in
weeks.
Ffoni the clcaver tho stono is
handed 10 the '.cutter," and sechr-
cd in exactly the samo way. The
diamond to be shaped is held in the
left hand, which is protected by n
heavy leathern glove. In the right
hand is tho stono which is to DO
used in grinding down tho facets
of tho diamond which is under
treatment. Tho process is very
slow, and when tho stone leaves
the hands, the cutter it has lost
whatever brilliancy it may have
had, and looks moro like n COM
mon pebble. But now comesa great
transformation.
Visiting the polishing room the
attention ia first attracted by what
seem to be round steel tables. Up
on a closer examination these are
seen TO be the disks which arc used
in polishing the diamonds. They
are making 1000 revolutions per
minute, and are covered with a
compound of oil and diamond dust.
The.frst process is to solder the
stone into a sort of brass cup, leav-
ing visible only thatportion OF the
diamond which is is be polished.
Taking into consideration the fact
that every stone has 64 differc mt
surfaces TO be polished, it will be
Immediately seen how difficult the
work of this operator is, and how
exact he must bo. Taking the stone
he places it in tho solder, now in
almost liquid state, and with his
fingers shapes the metal around
the diamond. This is then plung-
ed into water, and as the steam
...n.- r,-~,,, tbo raolfan r,nace ope