Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-31
GUARDING A FINE GEM
Extraordinary Precautions For Safety of cuI|inan Diamond.
ARTISAN EMPLOYED GUARDED

Will Take a Year to Cut and PolIsh
 TransvaaPs Gift to England's King.
 Stone Worth $4,soo,o ooo--seeret and
 Uniformed Police Employed as | Guards.
 Some of the particulars about the care bestowed on the Cullinan diamond the Transvaal's gift to King Edward V1I.-read like chapter from detec- tive story. To account for the anxiety for the safety of the stone, it must be remembered that it belongs to the crown jewels of England, not another of which can approximate it in value, size and brilliancy. The most difficult operation, the cleaying, was perform ed by an expert, and it's success was celebrated with champagne. The dia- mond now appears as pear shaped stone, and when 1t shall be polished and quite ready it will weigh about i 200O carats. In its rough original state the stone weighed 3,027 caratS. | The eventual shape to be given the stone Is kept a profound secret by King Edward and the head of the dia- mond cutting firm, says W. J. l.. kiehl special correspondent of the Chicago , News at The Hague. All that is known is that it is to have fifty-eight facets, which is the largest number dia- mond ever had.
 hr iy,c cy.iy, nf Inc 6iamOnd iS about 6O0O,OO0 tiorins ($2, 100000, but because of the rarity of such large stones 1t can safely be estimated at 12,OOO O00 fiorins ($4,S00,O0O). The skill ed artisan who has to polish the stone is a master of his craft, and the great est precautions are being taken to guard him and the diamond during tine long and delicate operation of cutting and polishing, which will be perform ed in large, well lighted and ventilat- ed room, situated in the second story of side wing of the factory, contigu- ous to the room of the heads of the firm. It will take whole year before the stone is ready, and during all that time the working hours for the skilled artisan will be from ' a. m. until D. m. He is not allowed to leave the room even for his meals. Besides the principal workman, there will be two assistants, and one of the members of the firm will be constantly present in the room. This is locked upon the men by the head of the firm himself, who keeps the key.
 At night it is even more difficult to reach the stone than in the daytime. In a tremendously strong fireproof room, the walls of which are more than foot thick and made of cement and iron, is placed great iron fire proof safe, and in this lies the dia- mond The door of the strong room can only be opened by means of fig ure lock, the figures being known only to the heads of the firm. Behind the door is a heavy iron grating, and when this is opened the place is Immediately flooded with electric light. Then the great iron fireproof safe becomes visi- ble in the middle of the room. This safe is painted to resemble mahogany, and not single lock is visible. There are nine strong locks, but these are placed beneath secret sliding panel. Even when the outer doors of this safe have been opened the diamond cannot be reached before another secret pi- geonhole has been opened, in which the valuable stone reposes. The factory is guarded night and day by private guard of it's own as well as by secret and uniformed police. The strong room is again specially guarded by two men, who every half hour have to touch an electric controller which sig. nals their presence. If the signs of the electric controller point only one sec ond past the regulation time, the guards are severely reprimanded.