Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-10-08
POLISHING OF THE
CULLINAN DIAMOND

AS the work of polishing pro
crosses to completion great Interest
attaches to the Cullinan diamond
although several months will elapst
before IL will be completely finished
There has been great deal OF sec.
recy connected with the polishing
of this stone, but have been able to
obtain certain facts in connection
Herewith which may be of general
interest.
The delicacy OF the work under
taken by the polishers In the execu-
tlon OF this work can not be real
lied II 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 MAX
dlamond-cuttlng saw at the point
diamond-cutting sa wat the point
where Il is TO be cleaved and follow
ing the grain Gas all diamonds have
grain as wood hes) to n depth OF
one-half to three-quarters OF an inch.
Before this cleavlng operation was
undertaken crystal models were
made and cleaved, In order to aseer-
tain as far as could be known Just
what would happen when same pro-
cess was applied to the real stone.
After the incIsion was made the
cleaver inserted into SLIT n specially
constructed knife blade made OF the
finest seel. and ther, with n thick
steel rod, struck II a hard blow and
cut the stone In twain exactly at the
point where II was proposed II should
be cut. II was an exceedingly we'll
executed piece OF work.
II must not be overlooked that the
cleaving OF a diamond Is not always
done along the line II Is intended,
and II not infrequently happens that
In cleaving stone II flies into
great nmmber of pieces.
The stone having been successful
ly split, the next and final operation
is the polishing thereof, and this
process is now being carried on.
To give an idea of the hardness OF
diamonds Il may be interesting 10
state that the disk on which this
diamond is being polished, which Is
made OF east iron and steel. revolyes
at rate OF 24OO revolutions min
ute. The diamond is pressed down 4
on this disk, which is literally sup
piled with mixture OF diamond |
dust and oil. by weights OF IS to 25 |
pounds. and the disk will constantly |
turn from a. m. to . D. m, includ- |
ing Sundays. for 10 TO / months be-
fore the polishing operation will be
II has not yet been positively de-
'ided in what shape the stone will be
but the general impression
Is that Il win be pear-shaped. II wiz
be, when poli he'd. many times larger
han the Excelsior. which was, up 10 I.
he discoyey of the Cullinan, tho
argest diamond IN the world.
The Cullinan weighed in It's rough
'tate S027 carats. The part of the
stone which Is on the mill will pos
iihly be given 5S facets. which is the
lumber given 10 all other diamonds
II whatever sire ana It will weigh.
when finished, between 500 and 500
arats.
The actual commercial value of the
completed stone will be about s2,-
100000, but its unique character
win possibly make II priceless.
When the Cullinan was found
bout three years ago II was a prob II
em OF the Premier company as 10 {
What disposition could be made OF I
Its mere weighing, as IL )
ia, comething over one and a hale
- upwe Notable and
nsalable, and TO cut it u9 into small
ieces would destroy, 20 a large ex-
ent, not only It's intrinsic hut its
sntimental value.
Hence the diamond remained IN
he vaults Of the Premier company
pr nearly three years, when II was
ecided by the Transvaal govern
lent 90 present it to the king of .
ngland on the anniversary OF his =
6th birthday. =
In the rough the stone wa valued
about sl,oo0,ooO. and about thls
rice was actually paid fharefor.
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