Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-05-14
THE ROUGH DIAMOND
Three Processes Through Which
the Uncut Stone Passes.
SPLIT, CUT AND POLISHED.

De split-Ths Differences Between
the Roses and the BriIIisnts.
The first OF the three processes
through which the rough. uncut dIa-
m0nd has to pass is that OF splitting
the stone. Men are employed at this
task, which is all done by hand with
out the aid OF machinery. 1t Is not
lengthy process unless the stone con-
tains a great many flaws, for an or
binary diamond weighing about ten
carats can generally be split In fifteen
minutes. The object Is to divide the
rough. uncut diamond containing flaws
into several pure, fawless stones, and
in order to do this strong pressure is
exerted on the weak spots caused by
DAVIS by means Of a diamond tipped
tool, which Is held in the right hand.
Ut is an old and well recognized prin-
ciple that nothing but a diamond will
cut q diamond" In the left hand Is
held a curionsly shaped little frame
INTO which the rough diamond now to
be split has been firmly fixed. Great
pressure is then used on the weak spot.
md in a few moments the diamond
pitts into two portions.
Should there be any more flaws in
either Of these sections the process Is
repeated until several pure, flawiess
diamonds lie on the rough wooden tables
pf the workmen, ready now for the
second process-that Of cutting This
process, like the first, is almost entirely
performed by hand, but by women and
girls instead of men. Only In the case
Of very hard, difficult stones is ma
chinery necessary, and then men are
Employed to use It.
The work Of diamond cutting is a
delicate and difficult task, very trying
10 the eyes, too. for some of the dia-
nonds are so minute that 400 Of them
pr more may weight only half carat.
Each worker is responsible for the
packet Of diamonds she receives at In
ervals from the forewoman. and IL by
accident she loses one of the precious
stones she has either to find it again
r refund it's value. The tools employ
ID in diamond cutting are very similar
n appearance to those used In diamond
plitting. In both cases diamonds are
sed as knives. after having been flrm-
fixed into the tip of pear. shaped
polls. The women hold In the left
and the rough diamond they wish to
ut, which has also been firmly fixed
ITO wooden frame. Little lets Of
as are always kept burning on the
arious tables ready to be used ut any
loment when melted wax is neces-
airy.
The only real difference in the two
Processes of diamond splitting and dia-
bond cutting lies in the fact that
Thereas the men who split the dia-
bonds use pressure on one spot only
where the Jaw occurs) the women de-
ote themselves to rounding the whole
tone and carefully cutting on all an
les to be seen on its surface by means
the sharp diamonds they hold in
heir right hand Occasionally they
ave very large diamonds to cut which
Ike great deal of time. but an ordi-
airy stone weighing about ten carats
ould not take so very long.
When the diamond has been suf1-
emily cut and rounded, 1t is then
eady for the third and last process,
hat Of polishing. This work requires
great deal Of time and skill and is
reformed entirely by machinery.
team engine supplying the motive
oWer for all the iron disks. The
recess consists In giving to the round
diamonds what is termed in technl-
ai language their necessary sides"
All diamonds are divided into two
asses. "brilliants" and roses" al
pough the only real difference between
hem lies in the number OF sides they
diVidually possess after having been
olished In one of the many diamond
actories. A brilliant must possess
Ity-elght sides "a few years ago the
west number was sixty-four. for there
re fashions In diamond cutting), but
rose need only possess twenty-four
des.
Another, though slight. difference be-
Seen them is that a brilliant is point
at both ends, while a rose diamond
rs one end fattened and the other
olnted. When the diamond is ready
be polished II has first to be soldered
TO pear shaped frame made Of zinc
I'D then dipped Into a preparation OF
and diamond dust before being
listened. with three others. into a
rong frame placed IN close proximity
an iron wheel.
This little disk Is then set In motion
connecting Il with the great engine
ld the wheel Immediately turns at
rate OF 1000 revolutions to the
mute.
As 1t revolves the four diamonds set
The adjacent frame are gradually
phshed by means Of the friction pro-
ICED on their surface by the particles
diamond dust still adhering to the
into which they had been previous
dipped.
only one portion Of 4 diamond can
polished at once. and consequently
nen this part has been dealt with the
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