The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-14
NEW YORK IS CENTER
FOR DIAMOND CUTTING
Conditions in the European
Countries Bring about
This Change.

NORWALK. Conn. Sept. l4-'war
orders and war conditions" harr.
among other things, mndo New York
the greatest diamond market in the
world, according To one OF the experts
Of the trade. who estimates that last
month over 100000 worth Of these
rare Jewels were sold in that city.
Prior to August. l9l4. not "a few Amer
leans visited Amsterdam in order that
they might pay n fee OF one guildcr
and see the actual work or diamond
cutting, Now Americans cannot read
lily 70 to Amsterdam. hut. II they
did but know IT, right IN New York
they can see some OF the choicest
stones in the worldwide gem market
being sawed. ground. polished and
set for delivery. In rings or other
adornments.
Although not popularity recognized
MS such. New York is now one NJ tho
foremost Ccutcrs in all the world for
the cutting OF diamonds In twenty
or more shops there are now at work
between 500 and COO men who put in
eight hours daily OF exceedingly Eusci-
mating work over their benches. prop
crly splitting. shaping and facetiug
these rough little chunks ~ pure car
bon That this is no infant industry
is shown by the statement Of several
authorities in and ont Of the business
that the average normal monthly out
un' - Now Works diamond cutters Is
approximately 100000 They also
urce thar tho stones cut in that city
are of the better grades, usually
Weighing well over carat each.
Some Of the First Experiments.
Diamond cutting IN this country Is
a comparatively new trade the first
experiments having been made by
Roaton icwellor named Henry u. I
Morse. in 1866 From then on until /
1874 numerous other shops were es-
tablished and II Is recorded that the
art not only enslaved the Boston
iowcller. but also carpenter who
vas hired to build the first SGT OF
benches, clothing merchant Of De- ,
troit and several Yankee pcddlcrs. hut
not until the latter date was there
dr". 'n"@N s'ahlc and commercially
profitable grindcry on this side Of the !
a"a then II wns that n manu-
tarurinE jo-cllor down on Gold
street in New York city, started OPP
erations with less than dozen work
men. who together with the neces-
Fary CONTINENT, were imported direct |
from Holland.
Since the return Of prosperity over !
wear ago not n wheel In all New /
ork has been idle except for Sum /
avs and repairs For with the pros
~ yftnattpV, tbDrp 10, IIEtln
cutting being done anywhere but In
neutral Holland and relatively few
'a~er "n" find their way over here. I
In parties Of two or three there Is a
s'raar Sow ~ these neutral Dutch
men drawn here hy the high prevail
Ing scale of wages Of from S2S to $50
a wcel, for a good iourneyman cut
Tor This. needless TO say, is I'M
dreamed atIluence for the old world
artisans.
Like Playing Piano.
Cutting a diamond is like playing
a piano" said the head Of one Of the
shops, himself a Holander and n
practical cutter. who learned his craft
by serving the usual three years of
apprenticeship in an Amsterdam shop
His workrooms are perllously near
the white way" and on entering
them, except for the whir Of the saws,
one seems 70 have left New York
city behind Round about the outer
Offices or parallel oak Is compre-
hensivc collection Of little masters"
in reproduction, besides bits Of an
tiNue. bronze sculptory and iron grill
ing Of old European workmanship
diamonds cannot be cut" said this
man, unless the man at the wheel
knows tho technique of It so well that
II is all second nature. II he were
20 have 10 stop and measure every
facet with gnagc. then he would
aevcr rot through. He must be able
to II all by his eye and fingers, Just
IS YOU play musical instrument.
Otherwise he would ruin everything
that he might touch, for d'a'No"ds are
really very delicate. and. besides los
ing on an average Of sixty per cent by
weight in cutting, they occasionally