|
The History of Diamond Cutting
Prior to the Medieval era the Diamond was worn rough, or cut and
polished only on its upper surface. It was in this form that it was used
to ornament temples, goblets, reliquaries, and crowns. The history of
cutting Diamonds can be dated back to the beginning of the fifteenth
century in Paris. The earliest records of
the art of cutting diamonds originate in Paris and reference is made to
a diamond-cutter named Herman, in 1407. The diamond cutters of Paris
were quite numerous in that year, and lived in a special district known
as "la Courarie, where reside the workers in diamonds and other stones." In 1434 Guttenberg learnt gem cutting
and polishing from Andreas Drytzehen of Strasbourg. However, the art of
diamond cutting has been credited to a Flemish polisher called Lodewyk (Louis) van Berquem of Brugge,
Belgium who in 1458 created the first cut diamonds when he
discovered that diamonds could be cut by their own dust. Louis van Berquem invented a diamond polishing wheel called a scaif
which enabled him to cut the facets of a diamond. He also introduced the
concept of using absolute symmetry in the placement of facets on the
stone. From this
point diamonds were used as ornaments in jewelry and the process and
different techniques for diamond cutting were gradually developed. For
more information about the History of Diamonds and their various cuts
please click the following link:
History of Diamonds
Lapidary the Art of Diamond Cutting
- Cutting, Bruiting, Setting & Polishing
Diamonds are prized for
their lustre, transparency, refraction and dispersion of light. These
may be, to some extent, visible even in their rough state; but in order
to enhance these advantages the diamonds must be subjected to cleaving, bruiting, cutting, and polishing. Lapidary is the name given to the art
of cutting, shaping, polishing and creating jewelry from stones. A
skilful lapidary could bring out all the brilliance of a diamond whilst
concealing its imperfections by choosing the most appropriate diamond cutting
technique and best shape. The skill of diamond cutting is complicated
work consisting of cutting, polishing, setting and cleaving. The
terminology used in the old skill of diamond cutting is as
follows:
-
Lapidary - The art of cutting, shaping, polishing and creating
jewelry from stones. The term was also used to describe an
expert in cutting and polishing Diamonds
-
Cutting - Every stone is examined minutely for flaws and
imperfections, enabling the cutter to decide in which way the
diamond will give the best possible results. Rough diamonds are
then cut into a two-point, four-point, wass, drop briolette,
rondelle, or table stone
-
Bruiting - The term for shaping the girdle of diamonds
-
Setting - A suitable setting for the diamond is selected and the
mechanism used to hold the stones in place, such as the bezel,
pave, channel and prong settings is chosen
-
Polishing -
Diamonds are polished according to the precise run of the grain
and the way in which it will polish to the best advantage.
-
Facet - Every facet
of a diamond has a name, and every name denotes the grain, and
how to polish that particular facet
-
Diamond Symmetry -
Symmetry is a term that refers to the alignment of a diamond's
facets, its flat and polished surfaces. The facets are cut to
achieve the best play of light.
-
Cleaving - Taking a
piece off a Diamond where it is too long, or making it into
small stones where it is badly flawed, thus taking away the
impurities and defects
For
facts and information about the different types of Diamond Cuts please
click the following link:
Diamond Cuts
Diamond Powder
The
diamond is the hardest of all known bodies scoring a level of 10 (harder
than steel) on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
Diamonds can
only be manipulated by means of powdered diamond.
This powder is prepared generally from bort, or faulty diamonds, and from the refuse in cleaving and cutting,
which, being put into a mortar of hardened steel, is
pounded until it is fine enough for use.
Diamond Cutting
|
