The representative., 1900-05-17

through their hands. In one year 400, 900
have been cut in this one factory.
Diamond splitting and diamond cutting
look somewhat alike as the tools are very
similar, but in reality the process is not
the same the great difference being that
pressure is used In the first instance al
ways on the same spot, with the idea OF
causing the diamond to split into two stones;
while in the other case it is used equally
on every part of the diamond in order to
give it simply a round shape. To gain
this roundness is, therefore, the one lead
ing idea of diamond cutting. AS the dia-
monds are cut a fine dust falls from them
into a wooden box the table, and this
powder is most carefully preserved, as it Is
used largely in diamond polishing, when
mixed with oil.
All the diamonds to be cut are given to
the women in small packets, each packet
having the number and size of the dia-
monds it contains written plainly on the out
side. After having once received these
packets the women are responsible for their
contents.
The work II diamond cutting is particu-
larly hard and very trying to the eyes, az
some Of the diamonds are so small that
800 Of them only weigh one carat. The
time that a diamond takes to cut depends
very much on its size, large one weigh
ing ten carats usually takes from three to
four hours, while the smaller ones take
much less time.
ing, is an important and lengthy one. There
are 10 large rooms in Mr.. Coster's factory
entirely devoted to this work, work, too.
in which machinery plays large and inn
portant part. Three hundred and fifty men
are here constantly employed in polishing
annually thousands of diamonds.
The skilled workmen sit at long, narrow
tables, with their backs to the windows,
having in front of them the small iron
wheels which revolve with such terrible
- tn, raN%in nm hVyt thn
engine Facing the windows stand appren-
tices and less skilled workmen, whose work
1t is to receive the diamonds from the cut
ting rooms and solder them (by aid OF the
gas jet), into the top OF small pear-shaped
tools of various sizes, these tools being
composed of lead and tin. The diamond
tipped tools then pass into the hands of the
skilled workmen, who. before fastening
them firmly into frames which stand IN
close proximity to the wheels, dip each
diamond into mixture of oil and diamond
dust. This is the most important part OF
the process, for by means OF these grains or
dust the polishing is done. -Four of these
tools containing diamonds are then placed
in position near the wheel -four can be
polished at once), and with q quick move
ment OF the hand the iron discs are set in
motion The wheels revolve 1900 times In
a minute, and the diamond is polished on
one particular side by means of the con-
slant friction on it Of the grains Of cia-
mond dust.
AS the object Of diamond cutting is SIM
ply to make the stone a round one, SO the
object OF diamond polishing Is to give the
diamond the many "sides" (to use a tech
nical expression), considered necessary oy
the ieweler before it Is ready for setting.
Great skill is needed in this work, for
each stone has to be resoldered a great
many times onto the top Of the pear
shaped tools, and placed again and again
in connection with the revolving wheels.
IN order to produce these sides"