Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-11-07
c JITINa DIAMONDS.
The Various Stages of a Delicate ana
Interesting Process.

Indianapolis Journal. Mr.. ], q.
Stpe recently returned from a trip to
Amsterdam, where he saw much OF the
cleaying, cutting and polishing OF dia-
monGs. To reporter he talked inter-
cstiucly of the matter He said;
The diamond, when mined, is very
often of d shape so Uneven that in
preference to cutting half oil and let
ting that Part go to dust, as was former
ly done missions are now made run
ming with the grain OF the diamond.
The inCisson Is made with the sharp
edge of another diamond. The cleaving
knife is then inserted and given 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 IL is nee
essary to do the rough cutting techni-
cally known as 'bruting This Is done
by affixing two diamonds on the ends
of two lockwood sticks with n very hard
cement; one is then rubbed against the
other and diamond cuts diamond
They are held over a cutting box nav
ing two iron pegs for levers, and con-
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 setter Sc
lects suitabe-sized brass cup. called
q OOPS, fills ii with mixture of lead
and tin and melts it in a gas flame.
Having worked the solder to its proper
shape he places the diamond in the cen
ter leaving only very small part eX-
posed. A mark is made on the solder
before ii is thoroughly set, and then the
stone is passed on to the polisher. BY
the mark made on the solder the latter
knows at once the precise run of the
grain and the way in which II viii 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 take it out OF the solder and reset
il for the first corner, called the fiat cor
ner. The solder is again marked to in
dicate to the polisher the run 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 n
circular disc composed OF soft, porous
| iron. so that as The diamond Is polished
| away in the form of dust II enters the
pores of the iron, the result being that
we have the dimcond 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 1000
to 1900 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 adj
just the points, edges and facets of the
diamond with extreme accuracy, keep
ing them constantly moist with dia'
mond dust and olive oil. Tho thumbs
of the workmen being used continually
and with much force, become greatly
enlarged
The beauty Of cut Of finished stone
depends so much upon the form and
position OF the facets that moderately
Ene stone, well cut and polished Is oi
far greater value than a large one less
artistically worked II sometimes hap
pens that the lapidary receives stone
of very unfortunate shape His duty
| will therefore. be TO take all possible
care to preserve its size. and, hiding
it's faults, give II such a form as snail
send ii forth with the greatest weight
consistent with beauty and brilliancy.