Comments on: How are diamonds cut? http://boutiquegem.com/cut-diamonds/how-are-diamonds-cut Your Resource for Fine Gemstones and Gemstone Jewelry Wed, 19 May 2010 08:34:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: U.K.Export http://boutiquegem.com/cut-diamonds/how-are-diamonds-cut/comment-page-1#comment-56 U.K.Export Wed, 01 Nov 2006 21:06:10 +0000 http://boutiquegem.com/cut-diamonds/how-are-diamonds-cut#comment-56 The reason that a diamond can be cut by another diamond is to be found in its crystal structure. Due to the way the atoms are arranged in a diamond crystal it has what is called a grain (if you think of a piece of wood it is softer along the grain and harder across the grain). To cut a diamond, diamond powder is used, in the powder the tiny particles are random which means some have their hard side up and on some it is down. The cutter uses his skill to work out the directions in which the grain runs in the stone he is about to cut and moves it so that each facet he is cutting has its "soft" direction running in the same direction the cutting disc (scaife) is rotating which means that some of the powder which is randomly positioned will have its hard side in contact with the soft side of the stone being cut so allowing the job to be done.<br><b>References : </b><br>40 years as a gemmologist (English spelling with 2 m's) The reason that a diamond can be cut by another diamond is to be found in its crystal structure. Due to the way the atoms are arranged in a diamond crystal it has what is called a grain (if you think of a piece of wood it is softer along the grain and harder across the grain). To cut a diamond, diamond powder is used, in the powder the tiny particles are random which means some have their hard side up and on some it is down. The cutter uses his skill to work out the directions in which the grain runs in the stone he is about to cut and moves it so that each facet he is cutting has its "soft" direction running in the same direction the cutting disc (scaife) is rotating which means that some of the powder which is randomly positioned will have its hard side in contact with the soft side of the stone being cut so allowing the job to be done.
References :
40 years as a gemmologist (English spelling with 2 m's)

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