What Is Diamond Cutting?

To bring out a diamond's full capacity to reflect light in a delightful array of colors, experts must cut many little sides, or "facets," on it. The standard "brilliant" cut has fifty-eight facets. As light enters the various facets of this monarch of precious stones and sprays out through its "table" (the topmost facet), a whole rainbow of colors capture the fascinated eye. With regard to the delicate operation of diamond cutting, great skill is necessary at every stage, but especially during faceting, because the angles of the facets must be exact in order to yield maximum brilliancy, and their sizes must be accurately regulated to preserve symmetry.

Before preparation of the facets, large diamonds undergo cleavage into smaller ones. This is an especially ticklish procedure. An expert must first make a careful examination to determine the direction of the crystal's grain; then he marks lines along which it may be split. After this a cleaver cuts a groove along a selected line of cleavage, mounts the diamond in a holder and inserts a steel wedge into the groove. Then there is the tap of a mallet and, if all has been done correctly, the diamond splits in two.