Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-09-30
DIAMOND. CUTTING.
The Various Stages of a Delicate and
Interesting Process.

! The Various Stages of Delicate and
Interesting Process.
| From the Indianapolis Journal. = ::
| Mr.. j. c. Sipe recently returned from a
| trip to Amsterdam, where he saw much
| of the cleaving, cutting and polishing of
| diamonds. To reporter he talked inter-
estingiy of the matter. He said:
THE diamond. when mined, is very often
| of a shape uneven that, In preference to
| cutting half off and letting that part go to
dust, as was formerly done, incisions are
now made running with the grain Of the
diamond. The incision is made with the
| sharp edge of another diamond. The cleav-
| ing knife is then inserted and given a
| sharp tap and the stone will split the
| grain runs and thus two or more smaller
! but better-shaped diamonds are made.
After the diamond is cleft 1t is neces-
| sary to Go the rough cutting, technically
known as bruting. This Is done by affix-
| ing two diamonds the ends of two box
wood sticks with a very hard cement; one
is then rubbed against the other and 'dia-
| mond cuts diamond They are held over
| cutting box having two iron pegs for
! levers and containing finely perforated
| brass pans, through which the dust falls,
the chips remaining in the top pan.
The stone having been cut to the salts
! faction of the master is taken to the pol
| ishing room, where a setter selects a suit
| able-sized brass cup, called dope fills it
with a mixture of lead and tin and melts
| it In gas flame. Having worked the
| solder to it's proper shape he places the dia-
mond in the center, leaving only a very
| small part exposed. A mark Is made on the
solder before 1t becomes Thoroughly set.
| and then the stone is passed On to the pol
| Usher. By the mark made on the solder
| the latter knows at once the precise run
| OF the grain and the way in which it will
| polish TO the best advantage the mill.
THE first operation is the making of the
! table of the diamond. This done, 1t is
| handed back to the setter that he may take
| it out Of the solder and reset it for the first
corner, called the fiat corner. The solder
| is again marked to indicate to the polisher
| the run of the grain Of this particular cor
| ner, and so the process is continued until
| the diamond is polished throughout. Every
| facet has name and every name denotes
| the grain, and how to polish that particular
| facet. The polisher uses a circular disc.
] composed of 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 cut
| ting the diamond again.
without the assistance Of the diamond
! dust the iron would not make the slightest
| impression on the diamond. The polishing
| wheel or disc is propelled by steam power
and makes 1000 to 5000 revolutions in a
| minute. Before the silently revolving discs
you will see men so intent upon their work
that they have eyes for nothing else for,
notwithstanding the perfection of the ma
| chinery, the skill of the workmen remains
| of primal Importance. 1t is with their fin
gers and thumbs that they adjust the
points, edges and facets Of the diamond
with extreme accuracy. keeping them con-
stantly moist with diamond dust and olive
oil. The thumbs of. the workmen. being
used continually and with much force be-
come greatly enlarged.
The beauty Of cut or finished stone de-
Ponds so much upon the form and position
| OF the facets that a moderately fine stone,
| wen cut and polished. h of far greater
| value than large one less artistically
! worked 1t sometimes happens that the
| lapidary receives a stone OF very unfortu-
nate shape. His duty will. therefore be to
| take all possible care to preserve its size;
and. hiding its faults. give 1t such.a form
ass shall send 1t forth with the greatest
weight. consistent with beauty and pril-
HancY."