MORE "WOW" Digital Microscope photos. ENJOY & LEARN! => 27 photos

 Many of these photos were taken with my Digital Microscope. I constantly edit them first for clarity & magnification.

    This 'mini-bead, claw-setting' was originally a FLAT PLATE. I try to avoid 'CAD-created beads' if is too difficult for the computer or the operator, I'll create the beads by myself in metal. 

 A new tutorial essay will (again) describe the many steps in creating these mini-claws.

 

  This Onglette graver was designed primarily to cut into metal. With the modified curved tip I can now easily & gently dig into the metal to create & raise 'beads'. If not, the tip of the graver will definitely break off in a moment.

 

  Under the '300x power microscope setting', you can now observe the point of the graver as it appears in the 'adjustable graver handle'.

 This is a photo of the 'bead holding the stone'. You can now observe how much of the metal is extended over the edge of the girdle of the stone. 

 1) HALF OF THE BEAD IS STILL JOINED TO THE METAL SURFACE WHILE THE 'FORWARD SECTION' IS COVERING THE GIRDLE. This definition of 'showing the bead as it's created' was taught to me only 65 YEARS ago.

2) That curved area BEHIND this bead is how the Onglette was initially formed by rounding the graver tip on Emery #4/0 paper. No Iphone camera can enlarge anything of this magnification.

 When dealing with waxes with many holes, there might be errors. We can't deal them, they MUST BE CORRECTED BEFORE THE METAL CASTING.

 Under careful scrutiny, you can see that many of the holes are not 'round'. This microscope will attest to the fact that 'nothing is perfect'. Much time is now being lost in repairing the metal openings before stone setting. YUK!

 This scale was created for diamonds and the weight is accurate to 3 decimal places. This diamond is 0.950 carats and it is quite accurate even with 2 places.

This sort of stone setting is aptly named the 'two-bead' setting, why is this name so commonly used? It is actually composed of two beads holding one stone in place.

  As seen in a recent essay on wax casting, these wax holes MUST BE ROUND but not OVAL. This wax error could be catastrophic if this wax was not inspected (under a greater magnification).

  This Bead-Burnisher is shown under a 15x power magnification. NEVER ASSUME 'SETTING TOOLS' MAINTAIN THEIR ORIGINAL SHAPE. I wanted to show this bead-burnisher under a 300x power enlargement but the tool length prevented this from happening. 

   This is a watch movement that measured only 1/2 inch in width.

  These 'diamond boarts' have been heat-soldered & secured into a steel rod for resurfacing grinding abrasive wheels.

  This is not a photo of a mountain, but it's a photo of a 1/2-carat diamond. At 300x power enlargement, you can easily see the grain lines of the natural (uncut) diamond.

 

  At 400x power magnification the natural 'growth lines' are quite apparent.

  This is a side view of a (mediocre-quality) diamond being held into place for 'diamond polishing'. Here you can observe the gradual placement of the new Pavilion Facets.

 This stone has been made ready for extensive 'polishing' but not like polishing a ring. This term actually means applying facets that will shape the stone with 57 facets throughout the diamond.

 After each facet has been cut or 'polished', the stone cutter will check for any errors in cutting the required angles.

 Both the Pavilion and Girdle Facets have been completed and the next step is to shape & cut the Girdle. Everything MUST BE CHECKED FOR ANGLE ACCURACY. A simple 10x power loupe is not sufficient, EACH STONE ANGLE MUST BE EXAMINED UNDER HIGH MAGNIFICATION.

  This 600x power photo shows many inclusions in the greatest detail. This little defect will be removed during the continuing 'polishing process'.

  This diamond will now be rotated constantly in the 'Dobb' (stone holder) Again, every facet MUST BE CHECKED UNDER CAREFUL SCRUTINY. A regular 1.00 - 2.00 carat diamond could take days to complete.

  This 18kt ring was stamped in England (aka. UK) the stamped insignia measured only 3/8th of an inch.

This diamond weighs 0.950 carats and has a diameter of only 5/8th of an inch. But look how large it is against my Digital Microscope?

   Your hand-held 10x power loupe couldn't get that close for any closer examination. I extended the 'viewing range' up to 600x power magnification.

 The 'bruting' or 'shaping' photos as it's named, were fashioned by my Father circa 1929, (96 years ago). This stone was captured at 600x power magnification. 

 You can easily see the 'natural' inclusions just above the Girdle. Many days are spent examining each area of the stone both internally and outside before any 'window' has to be made. 

This 'window' allows the diamond polisher to look inside for any minute inclusions. 

 These photos were scanned from my Digital Microscope at 1,200x powered magnification. This 'window' can now allow the 'diamond polisher' to peer into the diamond. 

 HE MUST EXAMINE WHERE THE 'GRAIN OF THE DIAMOND' IS LYING. A 10xpower loupe is still not sufficient and a much stronger & detailed planning is now 100% needed.

A more powerful magnification is needed in 'Diamond Faceting'.