Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-08-13
OIVMONO
POIIsHERS

The State Department has just
made public an interesting statement
from our Consul resident at Amster-
dam. in which he SAYS that diamonds
to the value OF sr2.4S5.l6s were
shipped from that town last year to
the United States. He makes some
other Interesting statements and
gives a graphic account OF diamond
cutting In part. he says:
Among the many Industries OF
Amsterdam. that OF diamond cutting
has long been an important one.
Since the fifteenth century when Il
was started) II has been extensively
carried on, and today no fewer than
sixty firms are registered i'm Amster-
dam as diamond cutting or diamond
1 polishing companies Some of the
firms restrict themselves entirely In
one process that Of diamond polish
ing. while others carry out the whole
OF the three processes diamond split
ting. diamond cutting and diamond
polishing. I'm one of these typical
complete factories 90 per cent OF
all the many thousands OF rough an
cut diamonds received every year
come from South Africa. and those
principally from the De Beers mines
at Kimberly. II gives one little
ldea OF the importance OF this indus
try In Amsterdam TO realize that
100000 diamonds were cut and mol
ished I'm one year alonet and that
300 to $50 men are daily employed
ln the different workrooms bv this
one company. which also EMPLOYS
about twenty women. who deserve
ITO he mentioned. since they ore i'm
trusted with the very important
work Of diamond cutting. Although
the firm was established i'm 1912. A.
was not until 1875 that women were
employed I'm the factory. but so sat
isfactory was the experiment that
now nearly the entire work of dia
mond cutting is done by them
thousands Of diamonds passing an
nually through their skllul fingers
The first OF the three processes
through which the rough. uncut dia-
mond has TO pass IS that of shifting
the stone. About twelve men are en-
ployed at this work. which is all done
by hand without the aid of machin-
cry. II is not a lengthy process. rn-
less the stone contains a great r,any
/ naws. for an ordinary diamond
weighing about 10 carats can zen
orally be split i'm fifteen minutes The
object is TO divide the rough. uncut
diamond containing naws) into
/ several pure nawless stones. anr in
order 20 do this strong pressure SIS
eXerted on the weak spots (caused
/ by haws) by means of diamond
tipped tool, which is held IA :he
right hand. II Is an old and we'll
recognized principle that nothing
but a diamond will cut a diamond
In the left hand is held a cuiousIy
shaped little frame. into which the
rough diamond now TO be split has
been firmly waxed. Great pressure
/ is then used on the weak spot. ami
in few moments the diamond s,iits
into two portions. Should there b.
any more flaws in either of these
sections the process Is repeated un-
/ til several pure. nawless diamonds
| lie on the rough wooden tables Of
/ the workmen. ready now FOR tine
| second process. that OF outline riiis
process like the Gr9t is almost en-
tirely performed by hand. bur with
one striking difference the work
is done by women and girls instead
Iof men. only i'm the case Of very
hard, difficult stones IS machinery
necessary. and then "a mere man j.
employed TO use it.
I "A pleasant workshop has been
/ built for the women on the quay
close to the factory In This room
about twenty women and girls ST. a.
/ several tables, placed where tho
light from the six large windows can
FAN on their work They work eight
I hours q day their wages varying
from g to 20 guilders C$8.21 to
/ $500 week.
The work of diamond cutting is
/ a delicate and difficult task. very
trying 10 the eyes. TOO. for some or
I the diamonds are so minute that 400
/ of them or more may weigh only
half o carat Each worker is re-
.sponsible for the packet OF diamonds
She receives at intervals from tho
iforewoman. ana if by accident she
loses one OF the precious stones She
has either to find St again or refund
+ its value
'Thc tools employed in diamond
cutting are very similar iu appear