Diamond Polishing
What are the methods of cutting and polishing diamond?
To have an understanding of diamond cutting you need to understand its crystal structure. To put it as simply as possible diamond has a "grain" rather like wood which means it is softer in some directions than in others and will split easily in some directions.
1) The first process is "cleaving" A rough diamond is made into a usable shape by scratching a grove called a "kerf" along the soft direction into which a steel blade is put and given a sharp blow with a small hammer. The diamond will instantly split along the cleavage plane.
1a) Some stones can be used more easily if they are sawn into parts. This is a long process and is only used where cleaving is not practical. The stone is held against a fast rotating thin copper disc that has had diamond dust worked into its outer rim. This sawing process may take several weeks to do.
2)" Bruting" The sawn or cleaved diamond is fitted into a clamp and rotated at speed. Another diamond (called a sharp) is held against the spinning diamond and knocks off tiny chips resulting in the stone developing a round profile.
2a) Laser profiling is also used these days to a lesser degree.
3) "Faceting" I will only give you a brief account of a complicated process. The stone is held in a clamp called a "dop" and attached to a metal tang. The cutting process is done by pressing the diamond onto a cast iron disc about 12in. dia. which rotates at high speed (called a skeif). This disc is impregnated with diamond dust mixed with olive oil. The diamond being cut has to be carefully positioned so the 'soft' direction lies id the direction of rotation (if not it just cuts a deep grove in the disc).
By repeated moving and using different grades of diamond dust the stone is cut into the shapes you see in the jewellers shop.
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Northern Ice: Diamond Capital of North America, Yellowknife - Northwest Territories, Canada
