The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-12-26
The CuIIlnan Diamond.


AS the work of polishing progresses
to completion great interest attaches
to the Cullinan diamond, although
several months will elapse before 1t
will be completely finished. There
has been a great deal of secrecy con-
nected with the polishing of this stone
but have been able to ascertain GER
tain facts in connection Herewith
which may be of general interest
The delicacy of the work undertake
en- by the polishers in the execution
of this work can not be realized. 1t
was necessary in the first instance to
cleave the stone in three pieces in
order to remove two very bad flaws
therein. This cleaving is done by
| first making an incision into the stone
with diamond-cutting saw at the
point where it is to be cleaved and
following the grain las all diamons
have grain as wood has) to depth
of one-half to three-quarters of an
inch. Before this cleaving operation
was undertaken crystal models were
made and cleaved, in order to ascer-
| tain, as far as could be known, just
what would happen when the same
process was applied to the real stone.
After the incision was made the
| cleaver inserted into the slit spe-
cially constructed knife blade made of
the finest steel, and then with thick
steed rod struck it a hard blow and
cunt the stone in twain exactly at the
point where it was proposed 1t should
| be cut. 1t was an exceedingly we'll
executed piece of work. 1t must not
be overlooked that the cleaving of a
diamond is not always done along the
line it is intended, and 1t not infre-
Equently happens that in cleaving a
stone it fiites into number of pieces
The stone having been successfully
split, the next and final operation is
the polishing, and this process Is now
being carried on.
To give an idea of the hardness OF
diamonds it may be interesting tC
state that the disk on which this dia-
mond is being polished, which is made
of cast iron and steel, revolves at q
rate OF 2400 revolutions per minute
The diamond is pressed down on the
disk, which is literally supplied with
| a mixture of diamond dust and oil, by
weights of 10 to rs pounds, and the
disk will constantly turn from z a
n. to 8 p. M, including Sundays, fol
ten to eleven months before the pol
ishing operation will be completed.
1t has not yet been positively de
cided in what shape the stone will bt
finished, but the general impression
is that it will be pear shaped. 1t viii
| be, when polished, many times larger
than the Excelsior, which was, up t
| the discovery of the Cullinan, the lar
gest diamond in the world The Cul
Imam weighed in its rough state 1902
carats. The part of the stone which
/ | is on the mill will possibly be givel
, 50 facets, which is the number givel
3 to all other diamonds of whateve
} | size, and it will weigh, when finished
3 between 500 and 600 carats. The &C
E tual value of the completed stone will
3 be about $2,500,OO0, but it's uniqu
S character will possibly make 1t price
4 less.
Il When the Cullinan was found abou
0 three years ago 1t was problem G
e the Premier company as to what dis
0 position could be made OF II. Its mer
v size, weighing something over II
pounds. made 1t unmarketable an
unstable. and to cut II up into smal
pieces would destroy. TO large eS
tent. not only it's intrinsic but its ser
I timental value. The diamond henc
e remained in the vaults Of the Premie