New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-22
DIAMONDS IN NEW-YORK.

This country Is rapidly advancing i'll all
that tends promote its general prosperity and PROM
surpass foreign nations in the prosecution OF
those arts which they always deemed their special
ties Until very recent date, Amsterdam has held the
monopoly Of the business Of cutting and polishing dia
monds and by an experience Of hundreds Of years.
during which period generation after generation has
been born to and educated the art that city has at
tanned an almost worldwide renOwn. Some years ago.
however, firm in Boston became engaged In the pur
suit and has met with welldeserved success but their
attention was chiefly directed toward the repairing Of
diamonds involving the reforming Of the stones, and
of course, the repOlishing 1t reserved for New
York to go into the business thoroughly and much 10
the satisfaction OF the leading jewelers. OF the country
the venture has proved more than successful
Not long since several gentlemen OF tins city deter
mined organize company having for its Object the
formation OF a diamond market here This was no small
task 1t required ge outlay OF capital IL
sary that the most experienced workmeD In Amsterdam
should be induced to come to THIS country 10 gave US tne
benefit Of their experience Machinery had TO be invented
winch should possible suIpass IN einelency tnat USED
in Amsterdam. These difficulties were overcome; the
capital obtained. HOauders OF long practice slgn
fed their Willingness to embark In an enterprise which
commended itself 10 nelr common sense Machhefy was
invented which fus the requirements OF the business
and just year ago the New, YORK Diamond company
began operations having for PRESIDENT MI Isaac Her
The process Of preparing Tor OF
singular interest The business Is divided into three ais
tnct branches and such the pr0nclency necessary III
each branch that extremely seldom that workman
can be found who is master OF all three. A.. .o,5..,
The rough diamond is frstt handed 10 the "cleaver
He Ia expected 70 soc instant where any flaw In
the stone situated he must be able TO tell what parts
must be split of in order to get rid OF any flaw, and at
the same time retain much weight as possible, with
the greatest Driancy. He calculates how much The
clpplugs will be WORTH whether they VIII make small
briants diamonds and having reached MS de-
he fastens the stone in the end of wooden stick
securing 10 by "A cement made of rOsln and bickdust
Another diamond already split and having very sharp
euge is served la like manner aud with this he cuts
notch in the diamond which he Is about 10 splt Ihis
operation is performed over small box containing
sieve which catches the diamond dust The notch being
made the cleaver takes a small steel rule. which ho
places the line IN the direction OF which tho oeaY
age should ne made. Having apparently, taken his ann
lac places the ruler u lle 4Qkfg aug EllQh99r 4W9
quick taps with steel rod the stone Is split. Heating
the cement the workman removes the diamond; 1t has
been so split that the flaw has been entirely removed
The diamond may be worth hundreds, perhaps thous-
ands OF dollars, and any Ignorance or error on the
more than they could recover ia weeks
From the cleaver the stone Is handed TO tho CUTTER
and secured IN exactly the sameaW0y. The diamond 10
be shaped is held in the left hand which is projected by
heavy eathern glove. In the rieht hand 10 the stone
which to be used IN grinding down the facets OF the
diamond which is under treatment The process Is very
SLOW and when the stone leaves the hands OF the cutter
II has lost Whatever Dilancy ~ may nave had' ana
looks more ike common pebble. But now comes
great transformation.
traeted by what seem TO be round steel tables Upon a
used In polishing the diamonds Ihey are mahhg
1900 revolutions per minute ana are covered win "a
compound OF oil and diamond dust The first process Is
TO solder the stone into sort BRASS cup leaving visible
only that portion OF the diamond which 10 DE pOshed
Taxing into consideration the TACT that every stone has
"a different surfaces 10 be polished lt VIII De nmedhe
how difficult the work of this operator Is hnd now
exact ne must pc EASING Iae Stone no P tG ~ ~ o
solder, now in almost liquid STATE ana win his fingers
su4pts tie metal around the diamond. Ihl5 Is tlen
plunged into water, and the steam arises from the
niOleu mass, naturally turns 10 II the workman
10 provided with hands OF iron. But nO-practco mas
made him inyulnerable.
Inc posner now the diamond touches the point
with tie OIL and diamond DUST clamps the cup contain
ing the precious stone i'm wooden rest that tho ola
uupd shall lust touch the polishing disk BY weights he
regulates pressure. Experts will nave throo dil-
uonds undergoing TINS process at the same time. and
Vel tey scein to pay but tilc attention their
40 little la fact that might well wonder whether
they arc taking any interest at all In what they are
doing But III Tic does the observer realize the years OF
Daeut toll that has enabled tho operator 10 attain bis
treat proficiency. Az times stOno may be so ird that
months are required give IL tho proper bfiinncJ but
sooner or lafe Inc appears aud what has been
the object vi So us, sOoude ana laOOr nnaiy comes
forth perfect gem.