American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-12-25
DiamOnd.Cutting.

Tho process of diamond-cutting, says
Dr. A c. HamlIn. in Popular Science
Monthly, is very simple matter to those
acquainted with the nature of the gem.
To cut the facets two stones are ccmentcd
on two sticks and rubbed against each
other until facet is cut. The process is
thus continued until the gem is faceted all
over. The diamond is next placed in the
hands of the polisher, who tastens II in
solder, and then holds IL against a small
steel disk revolving horizontally with a
speed of I 500 to 5000 times q minute.
Diamond cutting proper Is a rapid opera
ton, but the polishing is slow and tedious.
One cutter can generally furnish sufficient
work for four or five polishcrs. The two
principal forms adopted by the lapidaries
are the brilliant and the rose. The former
was first practiced in Europe in the sew
enteenth century, and IS by far the best
for calling forth the powers of the gem:
The other Is of unknown antiquity, and
has long been in use among the Hindoos.
Tho process of rifting diamonds by
splitting them in their cleavage-pianes WAS
known long ago to the HindOos, but WAS
forgotten until revived by Wollaston not
many years ago. By this means masses
of the crystal may he removed to escape
. Jaw CT remove a spot. In reducing the
natural diamond TO a regular form much
of its substance is lost, and sometimes as
much rs one-half the weight of the stone.
Perfect octahedrons lose but onc-fifth of
their weight when fashioned into brilliants
but rhombohedrons lose over third.
The following figures give some notion of
the loss:
Cdras.
Thc Nogul weighed In the rough. ---..-.Ts9
The Regent weighed 40 carats; reduced
ne Kos-i-noor weighed 1867 carai.; re- ''''
The S star q tn. South weighed ass1 caiai.;
The Regent cost for cutting $25, 600, and
occupied two years time The Star of
the South occupied only ninety days, and
the Koh-i-noor only thirty eight working
days. This great feat in diamond
was done by the ablcst of the Dutch lapi-
darics, with the aid sof steam power.
The cost Of cutting is said to have been
$40, 900.
The process of diamond cutting has
within . few years been established in the
United States. Dir. Henry ID. Morse, q
jeweler Of Boston, conceived the idea of
constructing o machine for cutting and
polishing the gem When engaged in
perfecting his appliances chance threw in
his way an itinerant vendcr of porcelain,
who had once BEEN engaged in the dia-
mond -ateliers of Amsterdam. This Jew
could only cut the facets of the diamond;
the art OF polishing he did not under
stand. The deficiency was soon supplied
by an acquaintance, who was induced to
leave Holland and act as polisher in the
American diamond adventure. The estab-
lishment was now complete. The invent
i've genius Of Mr.. Morse made several i'm
portAnt changes in the machinery re-
quired, and the discovery Of the South At
rican diamond mines soon threw abundant
business into his hands, Another atelier
has now been established in New York
under the direction of Mr.. ]. hermann.
A large amount of capital has been in
vested, and employ meat Is given TO forty
or more workmen, all Israelites, with the
aid Of steam-power- The table and the
rose patterns were the first regular forms
adoptcd by the lapidaries. The first was
simply the top of the stone ground fiat
with . corresponding fiat bottom of less
area, with its four upper and lower sides
parallel to each other The rose-shape
Was invented in Paris under the auspices
Of Cardinal Nazarin. The form of the
ruse-cut is simply that of q hemisphere
covered With small facets.
The form which appears to exhibit the
splendors Of the gem 10 the best advantage
u that known - the brilliant, and is right
" named from its effects. 1t was discov-
cred in Italy, in the latter part of the sew
snteeuth century, by Peruzzi, OF Venice,
which city was then one Of the chief gem
marts Of the world. The conclusions
which led TO the adoption of this shape
Were derived from. experiments upon col
nred stones. The form of the brilliant il
hat Of the ancient deep table modified by
thirty-two facets above and
twenty four below iR girdlc. The great
relative depth of the gem, aided by the
numerous facets of the sides, appears to
Increase the natural retroactive power of
he stone by combining, ~ 1t were, the rays
Of light inside of it.