The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-03
WOMEN CUT DIAMONDS.
The Most Delicate Work Is Entrusted
to Feminine Hands.

Women have always excelled in the
art of wearing diamonds, out now
many people know that they excel in
the art of cutting them, too? Yet they
the annual report of Frank ID. Hill,
Consul at that Dutch port, that IN
great diamond cutting factory three
women are intruSted with the most
delicate and difficult part OF the pro-
cesses.
1t is an important industry in Am
sterdam, is diamond cutting. Tnou-
sands of the gems that come from
the mines in South Africa are TAKEN
to that city to be split and cut ana
polished. made over from rough stones
into the sparkling wells of light that
shine on women's necks. In this rae
tory where women are employed over
100000 diamonds were cut and polish
ed in one year. For thirty years only
men were employed. but in 1873. as
an experiment. a few women were
taken on. and so dcxterous did they
prove that now the most important
part the cutting of the diamond is
done by them.
When the rough gems come in they
are first taken in hand by men. They
40 the splitting. that is. divide the
stones that have flaws into pure and
flawless gems. The men do this by
hand, holding the diamond. which mas
been firmly waxed in a frame. In one
hand. and with the other pressing the
where the flaw is in the stone.
Then the women take the divided
sections and perfect them. II Is a
ticklish task. this diamond cutting, ana
trying to the eyes. Some or the
diamonds are so minute that 400 or
them will weigh less than half a carat.
Yet the most infinitismal angle on their
surface must be detected and cut on.
The diamonds are still held Dy Delng
waxed in a little frame. and before the
h,,rr infS n
used when melted wax IS needed. For
eight hours a day the women work,
skilfully welding their little pear
shaped diamond-tipped tools ana
icent remuneration of from to 20
guilders ($3.21 to $S.OD week 10
be sure living is not so expensive IN
Amsterdam as it is in America, ana
these women have at least pleasan.
place to work in. A shop has been
built for them right on the quay, close
to the factory. and they have 1t all
to themselves and plenty OF large
windows to give them light Forum
ateIy for them, light is necessary to
their work.
The stones are given to the women
in pockets by the foremen, and II Dy
chance a worker loses gem and can
not find it she must refund its value.
This cutting is responsible work, there
fore and it is slow and patient work.
An ordinary stone, weighing about 10
carats. will take a woman whole
day to finish.
There are twenty women doing inns
work In the big workrooms, where
the diamonds go for the final process
the polishing-there are 500 men
working. 1t is interesting to note that
the highest wages any women receives
20 guilders a weeks the average
of the pay for these men. Machinery
is used in this department. where the
diamonds are polished and given what
is technically called their sides.
A good many celebrated olanonos
have passed through this factory
where the women work. 1t was mere
that the Victoria. weighing 400 carats;
was cut and polished. and the Mogui
279 carats in weight. and the sreae
Regent of France which is now in the
Louvre The Kohinoor was recut mere
losing half it's weight in the process
but more than doubling its value--
New Orleans Picayune.