The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-04-07

mond undcrgocs is called splitting or
cleaving This is necessary in order 10
derive the best results for commercial
purposes. The process consists first in
determining the proper plan aud dircc-
lion Tor dividing the stone INTO parts. n
proceeding that requires Judgment and
long experience. The rough stone is
then Embedded in cement, and a dull
edged diamond Is rubbed across its sur
face so as to leave an indcntation that
determines the line Of cleavage. The
operation Is then repeated with a
diamond having slightly sharper
edge, and finally with ono as keen as
arazor. A marked depression is thus
made, into which sharp steel knife is
inserted. A quick and light blow d.
vides the stone into two parts. The
accompanying illustration shows the
clcaver about to deliver the blow.
The next process is known as that Of
cutting, an operation during which the
stone is given its natural form. In
this department the new factory con-
tains feature of peculiar interest. 1t
possesses machine never before used
In America, and only recently adopted
by Few OF the largest blishments
IN Europe Instead OF following the
old method of rubbing two stones to-
gcther by hand. the stone undergoing
treatme nj is inserted in the chuck of q
lathe revolving at high rate Of speed.
and is placed in contact with another
diamond, that Is likewise fastened IN
an adjustable chuck. held in the hand
OF the oper ator. In the course of this
operation the stone receives its form
and outline. This process secures =
much better result than could be OBJ.
tanned by the old method. The pow
der which results from the stones rub
Ding against each other is used later in
polishing
The stone Is then ready for the pol
isher. lie must first determine the
character he will give the diamond and
select the method of working on it. To
prepare the stone nc has an assistant,
technically known as setter. The
latter, having received instructions. in
serts the stone in a, coEical mass Of
molten lead. allowing particular Sec
ton TO remain exposed. As soon as the
lead has hardened the polishcr places
the stone upon his wheel, which ro-
tates at the rate of two thousand three
hundred revolutions per minute.
Each setter has from five TO six pol.
ishers to supply, and as each polishcr
has at leas. four diamonds in work at
time the setter has fully twenty diff
ferent stones to keep in his settings. 1t
is his duty not only to set each stone
TO the best advantage. but also to re-
turn it to the proper polisher. As the
position of each diamond is changed in
the setting from twenty-five to thirty
times an idea of the number of opera
tons required before the stone is
properly faceted may be acquired.
Having arrived at a certain stage the
stone is sent back to the cutter to re-
move sharp edges or Irregularities that
may have arisen during the process Of
polishing. At his hands. also. the
stone receives its perfcctly-roundcd
form, after which Il is returned To the
polisher, who gives it its finishing
touches. 1t is interesting to note that
n parcel of rough goods is kept intact
throughout the whole process. the
product being retained as one parcel.
1t may start at one thousand carats OF
rough goods and go through all the
various operations until it appears as .
parcel Of gems weighing perhaps no
more than three hundred and fifty
carats. varying in size and quality,
but all derived from the original par
cel-Jewclers' Weekly.