The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-03

The art of cutting diamonds is said to
have been practced in India many thou
sands of years ago, but it was not until
1853 that il was known in Europe, at which
time a citizen of Bruges, named Louis
Berquen. first practiced it on a small scale.
The business prospered, because most of
the royal families and noblemen of that
continent found in the diamond an invest
ment which would, in the event of revolu-
ton, furnish sure means of relief and
support in foreign country. The enter
prise was transferred to Amsterdam, the
capital of Holland, which city, up to with
in recent period, monopolized almost the
entire business of diamond cutting and pol
ishing, and furnished the world with the
rare gems.
In the year 1869, Mr.. Ii. d. Morse, who
was carrying on the business of jeweller
III. Keyser and Mr.. n. Van Nolen, the
first of whom had served his time as da-
mond cutter, and the second as polisher in
Amsterdam, and had emigrated to this
country, where they found, in Boston, oc-
cupation in some other business. At that
time Mr.. 5. 4. Crosby, the senior partner
of the present firm, was associated in the
jewelry business with Francis Hunnewell
the firm name being S. T. Crosby & Co.
In the following year, 1860, Mr.. Morse
was admitted as a partner, the style of the
firm being changed to Crosby, Ilunnewell
& Morse. Some years previous to this. at
the suggestion of Mr.. Morse, Mr.. Sibey
had invented diamond polishing machine,
with the view Of repairing diamonds that
had become injured in setting or otherwise,
which work could not then be done except
by sending the gems to London or Amster-
dam. THIS machine came into the posses
sion of Mr.. Morse, who operated it for a
year, but it proved unequal to the work
But the need was still felt of having proper
facilities for doing this work, which, COUP
led with the knowledge that the practical
diamond cutters above mentioned were OBJ
tainable, determined the new firm ID COM
mence the business of
DIAMOND CUTTING IN BOSTON.
For this purpose little shop was hired in
Harvard place, cutting and polishing ma
chincry imported from Amsterdam, and
Messrs. Keyser and Van Nolen employed
| to do their work. Before that time rough
diamonds were never brought to the United
States. They were first secured for the
new firm from Amsterdam. but soon after
| imports were made directly from Brazil,
from which country, up to period subse-
quent to the discoveries in South Africa,
their supplies of diamonds were mostly de-
| rived. Brazilian diamonds, as rule were
never large, but some were of very rare and
beautiful colors-green, yellow, brown,
rose, as well as white.
The firm did not for many years make
their new business Il paying one, owing in
a great measure to the want of sufficient
number of skilled workmen in the differ
emit branches of the art but they perse.
vered, hoping for a change. The difficulty
workmen came from the fact that they are
all members OF society of diamond cut
tiers which has existed for centuries. This
society is strict in its regulations regarding
the number of apprentices to be taught thu
| business from time to time, and these must
invariably be members of the families OF
relatives OF those already engaged in the
business, In 1865 Mr.. Hunnewel retirot
from the firm, and in 1868 Mr. Charles NJ
Foss (of Haddoca, Lincoln 4 Foss) be-
came partner, the name of the new con
Germ being
Crosby, MORSE 3 Foss.
They still occupy their original bushes!
stand on Washington, near Summer street
and their diamond cutting department has
increased from small beginnings until now
it may be said to have assumed large pro
portions. They have from time to time adj
ded many workmen to their force OF da
mond cutters, all of whom were found il
this country, except Mr.. II. Cohenna, on,
of their best poishers, who is the only
workman they have ever imported, tho
wages in Amsterdam being so high thai
men there in steady employ cannot be in
duced to come to this country.
The work of diamond cutting and pol
ishing is one requiring peculiar judgment
and taste, derived largely from experience
The stone (Which is pure carbon crystal
ized) in the rough has usually smooth,
CLASSY surface. When it IS desired 10 shape
it into gem, the cutter takes 1t up and ex'
amines it critically with view OF hnding
the grain or line of ceavage-all diamonds
have a grain like wood or more nearly IKE
Iceland spar. The crystal can be spllt moi
only along its line of cleavage, but It can
also be sub-dyided into smaller crystals. il
being, in fact, an aggregation OF minute
CRYSTALS of a like shape with It's shape.
When the grain is ascertalned, the stone,
which is either octahedron or eight-sided
like two pyramids stuck together at the