Arizona republican., 1901-10-27
CUTTING DIAMONDS.
The Various Stages of a Delicate and
 Improved One Mile in Thirty.

Mir. J. c. Sipe recently returned from
 a trip to Amsterdam, where he saw
 much of the cleaving. cutting and
 polishing of diamonds. To a reporter he talked interestingly of the matter.
 He said:
 The diamond. when mined. is very often of a shape so uneven that, in ! preference to cutting half off and let i ting that part go to dust. as was
 formerly done, incisions are now made
 running with the grain of the dia- mond. The incision is made with the sharp edge of another diamond. The c'eaving 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 dia-
 monds 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 affixing two diamonds on the ends of two DoXWood sticks with very ! hard cement; one is then rubbed
 against the other and diamond cuts 1 diamond They are held over a cut ting box having two iron pegs for l levers and containing finely perforated
 brass pans. through which the oust
 falls. the chips remaining in the top i pan.
 'The stone having been cut to the satisfaction of the master. Is taken to
 the polishing room. where a setter se lects a suitable brass cup. called a | dope fills it with a mixture of lead
 and tin and melts it In gas flame. Having woI ked the solder to its proper shape he places the diamond In the center. leaving only a very small part exposed. A mark is made on the if tb0rongnlN
 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 it will polish 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 flat corner. The solder is again marked to indicate to the Jpolisher the run of the grain of this particular cor ner. and so the process is continued until the diamond is polished through out. Every facet has d 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. that as the diamond is polished away in the form Of dus. 1t enters the ports of the iron. the result being that we have the dia- mond cutting the diamond again.
 Without the assistance of the dia- mond dust the iron would not make the slightest impression on the dia mond. The polishing wheel or disc IS propelled by steam power and makes POGO to 5000 revolutions in minute. Before the silently revolving disc you will 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 work men remains of primal importance It is with their fingers and thumbs that they adjust the points, edges and fla cets of the diamond with extreme ac- curacy, keeping them constantly 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 a cut or finished ! stone depends so much upon the | form and position of the facets that q | moderately fine stone, well cut and | polished. is of far greater value than a | large one less artistically worked. It | sometimes happens that the lapidary | receives a stone of very unfortunate ! take all possible care to preserve its | size; and, hiding its faults, give it such a form as shall send it forthwith | the greatest weight consistent with | beauty and brilliancy.'- y.'-Indianapo!is | Journal.
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