The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1901-11-08

The Various Stages of a Delicate and
Interesting Process.

Interesting Process.
Indianapolis Journal: Mr.. ]. G.
Sipe recently returned from a trip to
Amsterdam, where he saw much of the
cleaving. cutting and polishing of dia-
monds. To a reporter he talked inter
estingly of the matter. He said:
THE diamond, when mined, 10 very
often of a shape so uneven that. ia
preference to cutting half off and let
ting that part go to dust, as was N
ly done, missions are now made run
ming with the grain of the diamond.
The incision is made with the sharp
edge of another diamond. The cleaying
knife is then inserted and given a sharp
tap and the stone will split as the grain
runs, and thus two or more smaller but
better shaped diamonds are made.
After the diamond is cleft it is nec-
essary to do the rough cutting techni-
cally known as 'bruting.' This is done
by afiXing two diamonds on the ends
of W lockwood sticks with a very hard
cement: one is Their rubbed against the
other and diamond cuts diamond
They are held over a cutting box hav-
ing two iron pegs for levers. ard o n
tanning finely perforated brass pans.
through which the dust falls, the chips
remaining in the top pan.
THE stone having been cut to the
satisfaction of the master is taken To
the Lolishing room, where Il setter Sc
lects a suitablc-siZed brass up, called
a OOPS fills ii with a mixture OF lead
and tin and melts it in Il gas flame.
Having worked the solder to its proper
shape he places the diamond in the CEN
ter, leaving only a very small part ex-
posed. A mark is made on the solder
before it is thoroughly set. and then the
stone is passed Oh TO the polisher. By
the mark made on the solder the lattice
knows at once the precise Il Of the
grain and the way in which it will pol
ish to the best advantage on the mill.
THE first operation is the making of
the table of the diamond. This done,
it is handed back to the setter that he
may TAX it out of the solder and reset
it for the first ornCr called the fat cor
ner. The solder is again marked to in
dictate TO the polisher the III Of the
grain Of this particular corner, and so
the process is continued until the dia-
mond is polished throughout. Every
facet has a name and every name de-
notes the grain, and how to polish that
particular facet. The polisher uses a
circular disc, composedgof soft. porous
iron, so that as the diamond is polished
away in the form of dust it enters the
pores of the iron, the result being that
we have the diamond cutting the dia-
mond again.
Without the assistance of the dia-
mond dust the iron would not make the
slightest impression on the diamond.
The polishing wheel or disc is pro-
PEELED by steam power and makes 2,00G
to 1000 revolutions in a minute. Be
fore the silently revolving discs you see
men so intent upon their work that
they have eyes for nothing else; for,
Notwithstanding the perfection of the
machinery, the skill of the workman re-
mains of primal Importance. 1t is with
their fingers and thumbs that they ad-
Just the points. edges and facets of the
diamond with extreme accuracy. keep
ing them constantly moist with dia-
mond dust and olive oil. The thumbs
of the workmen. being used continually
and with much force, become greatly
enlarged.
The beauty of a cut of finished stone
depends so much upon the form and
position of the facets that a moderately
fire stone, well cut and polished, is Of
far greater value than a large one less
artistically worked. II sometimes hap
pens that the lapidary receives a stone
of very unfortunate shape. His duty
will, therefore, be to take all possible
care TO preserve its size; and, hiding
its faults, give it such a form as shall
send it forth with the greatest weight
consistent with beauty and brilliancy.'