"BEHIND THE SCENES" => Diamond Polishing (37 photos)

Although these photos were displayed earlier in my blog history. I'm now adding additional photos just for this "Behind the Scenes" essay.

 As I don't have the Diamond Polishing wheel that creates the 57 Facets, I used a flat top block of steel to demonstrate the positioning of the stone.

  This is a rough looking diamond that is named as "Boart". The diamond polisher will transform this rough looking stone into a Gem that will be worn in jewellery.

  The very first facet that will be cut is the "Table", as shown here.

 The beginning of the "Faceting Process" starts with securing this diamond into the 2 prongs for stability. These two metal-claws must be well tightened against the stone. The tube underneath protects the fragile Culet during this delicate cutting process.

 

 Only one facet will be made available for this long process of 'polishing'. Again, this stone must never ever move.

 These little facets are just that, 'little windows' as the Diamond Polisher needs to know where the 'grain' of the stone occurs. If not, any pressure on an undesirable or 'soft' spot could fracture & ruin the stone.

  Here are the beginnings of the "Upper, Crown (Girdle) Facets", these lay just below the Table.

 My Father (z"l) had to learn his craft & skill on such delicate stones. Once he passed his 'test', he then proceeded on with better looking gemstones.

 Upon arriving into Canada the "National Film Board" heard of my Father who was the first person to introduce Diamonds in Industry. This 15 minute movie was the very first time diamonds have been seen in North America apart of the regular jewellery trade.

                                                     

  In this photo are a pile of diamonds that at that time were not 'polished' into gem quality.

 What my Dad is starting is the "Bruting" process. This process will create a round smooth Girdle. The speeds shown in this photo can be adjusted by moving the leather pulleys along the rotating shaft.

  As my Dad is holding the Bruting holder, he is letting the diamond dust collect in the tray.

 There are many little 'windows' or 'facets' for the polisher examine which is the best angle to start the many 57 facets.

  After creating the initial cutting of the 'Table', the next step is to cut the 'Pavilion' facets.

  This was my Fathers' Diamond that he learned to do his Diamond Polishing circa 1930. Thus making this stone now 93 years being in our 'honoured' possession.

 This assortment of diamonds and weigh scales is what appeared in my Fathers film.

 Here is a vial of actual Diamond powder dust. This dust is placed upon the rotating polishing wheel, it sticks to the metal wheel with the aid of mineral oil or a high viscus oil. 

Any residue of diamond being sloughed off does not get thrown away, but with the oil-base it stays on the rotating wheel which adds to the diamond collection. Great idea?

This a sharp steel blade (when hit with a hammer) that will be break a diamond into two sections. Thus giving the diamond polisher two new diamonds to cut & shape, this process is named "Cleaving".

 

 To have the correct angles of the Pavilion, this well-used simple looking gauge shows the numbers as required angles. The diamond polisher just puts the stone (Table laying flat) on the brass bar and it will easily determine the correct angle.

 

 

Long before there were accurate electronic scales, there was only these scales being seen in these photos.

 In this photo, I'm using a Cubic Zirconia as a 'photographic, sample' stone. These claws are showing shades of blue, the reasoning is that there is a lot heat being raised during the polishing processes. You can see just where the Culet is now resting & also being protected from any undue stress.

 

 Here is another 'polishing position' as the Diamond Polisher will be working on the Pavilion of the stone. He (or she) will invert the stone as needed just to gain greater access to the rotating polishing wheel.

  This apparatus is named as a "Dobb", but for this I'm using my GRS just for my picture taking.

For a closer look, I want to show where these 2 prongs will be tightly holding the stone.

  

  With the aid of my 10x power loupe, you can easily see the "Girdle" on this C.Z.

  

  Remember that this is not a genuine stone, but only a Cubic Zirconia. I am only showing the 'polishing process'.

   This exactly how the Pavilion is held against the rotating brass wheel that is lined with 100 grit Diamond Dust.

 There is a great amount of heat that is being built up in this process. Because of this, the prongs get soft and MUST be changed when required.

 Here is a (soft) Emerald that is on a Mohs Scale of 6 as a Diamond is at 10. Either way the polishing process is still the very lengthy as in polishing a Diamond.

 The exposed Pavilion is the facet that will be now polished. everything is accomplished 'one facet at a time'. Hence this whole process could take as long as one week, start to finish.

Here in this photo is the actual loupe in hand examining the CZ.

 

The light is not reflecting back to the eye.

 I just came across this very interesting 'footnote' as it pertains to this essay, hoping that it's useful to you.

 I'm showing what an "Industrial Diamond" looks like. These particular stones are not useable in the fine quality jewellery, but are phenomenal in the construction trade and other related fields.

 

 These diamond tools used and still even today for reshaping grinding wheels, why is this? There are no other stone that matches the strength as a diamond.

  You can see the fine angular sides of this stone, these are naturally formed by Nature. 

 The black colour of these stones has nothing to do with the strength. (The colour has also no importance either).  These are named "Diamond Tools". The name "CDT" was my Fathers company name "Canadian Diamond Tool", the #D307 designation was the design name for clients reordering needs.

 Many times there will be multiple stones set into these posts of steel with layers of these mini-diamonds put deeper into the posts. When one stone get broken or ruined, there is another stone further inside ready to be exposed and used.

  It's been an honour for me and my 'LEWY family' to explain how these Industrial Diamonds and polishing techniques came to fruition. Even in these modern days these methods haven't really changed.