The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-06-01
CUTTING KINGS DIAMOND.
How the Preparing of Worlds Lar.
gest Stone Is Done in a Locked
and Guarded Palace.

The special correspondent of the
Evening News at Amsterdam sends
the first detailed and interesting sto-
ry of the work of cutting the king s
diamond, which has now been begun
in secret in that city.
The great work of cutting the Gull
Imam diamond and preparing it for
it's place among the crown jewels of
England was begun (says our special
correspondent Saturday.
All the members of the firm en-
trusted with the work. Messrs. | and
j. Asscher, who have a gigantic Ia
brick in the Tolstraat, not far from
the center of the town-are now in
Amsterdam.
The actual splitting operation is
to take place this week in the pres
ence of several experts and small
number of privileged persons in the
trade, who have obtained special
permission from the authorities in
London.
Is Naturally, in such case the
greatest secrecy is observed, but
have been fortunate enough to ascer-
tain many interesting facts in con-
nection with the remarkable work
that is DeluS CdIIlSu Out.
1t is some time now since the firm
received the great diamond, but the
intervening weeks have been spent
in hard thinking and studying as to
the best methods of cutting it.
The first problem that Joseph
Asscher, the head of the firm, had to
solve was how to cut the diamond
so as to eliminate some very bad
spots existing in it.
For this purpose a special model
of the diamond in clay was made. On
this model has been concentrated the
attention of the firm.
1t was cut into pieces to give an
idea of what would happen if the
genuine stone were treated in the
same way.
After several experiments a detin-
lite plan was arrived at. but exactly
i how many pieces the diamond will
Ijbe cut into and the precise size OF
the stone when it has been cut, it is
| impossible to learn, as Messrs ASS
cher are not at liberty to divulge
this information to any one.
| A special table, not fixed to the
floor. has been manufactured for the
cleaving operation, as has also a spe
cial 'bak" or box.
When a stone has to be split, dia
| mond cutters use a small box witt
! broad projecting nails on each side
on which to steady both arms ant
hands, while the incision which pre-
cedes the splitting is being made.
In this case. however. a specia
box four times the ordinary size, will
sliding sides has been erected. Spe
cial wooden sticks have also beer
manufactured for the cutting pro
cess.
The diamond is to be imbedded il
cement, placed on the top of a stick
not unlike the stick of a big drum
Then it will be held firmly in tn,
left hand over the box against thu
projecting nail. while the right hant
will hold a thin wooden stick alst
with cement on top, on which is i'm
bedded sharp cutting diamond
edge upward.
The sharpest diamonds obtain
able have been bought for this pur
pose.
The process of cutting into tn,
diamond is necessarily very SLOW
one, and the greatest care is bein,
observed
The incision is to be a certain
depth-probably from one-half tC
| three-quarters of an inch-and /
will be some two or three days be
fore the desired depth has beer
reached.
1t is interesting to note that a dia
mond, like wood has its grains, ant
each stone has only four grains b.
, which it can be cloYen.
In cases of small diamonds, whel
the imperfections can not be erased
by cutting through the grain at an.
point the saw is brought into use t,
make the division.
The saw had been thought of il
this case, but this idea was abandon
ed owing to the length of time sucl
a procedure would occupy, and
above all, because of the DANCE
there would be of the saw going in
| wrong direction after having reach
ed certain point.
Once the incision on the king
diamond is deep enough, this i
what will happen.
Joseph Asscher will fix firmly tn
stick on which it is placed to thicl
square piece of lead, insert in tn
slit specially constructed knit
blade made of the finest steel, an,
J with thick steel give it a terrifi
blow. This cuts the stone in twain
The other necessary divisions will
be made in similar manner. In cas-
the diamond should fall, thick car
pets have been laid around the ia
BILE, while the apron which Mr.. Ass
| cher wears has It's eXtremitieS attach
ed to the table as a further precau
ton.
Once the above has been achieved
the jewel will be handed over t
Herr Henri Koe, strong, keen
looking young man with wrists O
iron, who has been in the firm TO
some twenty years.
He it was who polished the fam
GUS Excelsior diamond, weighing 81
carats, on behalf or his firm. II