This includes a lot of sophisticated instruments and the dedicated work of
cutting artisans before the final products like people's
diamond rings could be ready for sale. Below are a few methods commonly used in
diamond cutting.
Cleaving
Cleaving is performed to bring the
size of the
diamond to a manageable level. Thus, the cutter is traced through the tetrahedral plane where it is the weakest. The
diamond is held steady by using wax or cement and the steel blade in the groove
cuts through the
diamond.
Sawing
There are situations where the
diamond has to be cut where there is no plane. This is done using a phosphor bronze element, which rotates at 15,000 rates per minute. The sawing process is also carried out using a laser, which may take hours to complete. First, the flattest side of the
diamond (table) and the point of largest diameter (girdle) are decided, and then the cutter proceeds with
the cut.
Polishing
Polishing is carried out in order to give the
diamonds a final finishing touch. The
cutter places the
diamond to face a rotating wheel in this process. The polishing wheel is coated with abrasive
diamond powder, which applies the smoothening.