Engagement Rings and Diamonds Facts and History - The Diamond Cutting Process

Engagement Rings and Diamonds Facts and History - The Diamond Cutting Process

Cutting a diamond from rough to a beautiful and perfectly symmetrical diamond cut is a very specialised skill and takes years of practice. Special tools, knowledge and techniques are needed to cut a diamond, due to the hardness of the material. Diamond cutting originates from Nuremberg, Germany and the first diamond cutting guild was founded in 1375. (Many thanks to the Nuremberg contingent back in 1375, if it wasn't for them we might not have diamond engagement rings as we know them today!)

Engagement Rings and Diamonds Facts and History - The Diamond Cutting Process - The 5 Steps

There are 5 steps to the painstaking process of cutting a diamond, these are:

Planning the Cut of the Diamond

Before any cutting of the diamond takes place, there is a thorough inspection of the diamond to determine the best way to optimise the weight and value of the cut diamond from the rough stone. Diamond cutters use a scanning device to make a 3D model of the rough diamond and any inclusions; this 3D model is used to determine the most economic way to cut the diamond.

Diamond Cleaving/Sawing

This is the part of the process where the diamond cutter splits the diamond into separate pieces. The two methods for this are Cleaving and Sawing:

-Cleaving is a method where a groove is cut along the diamond and a steel wedge is put into the cut and hit with a hammer. This causes the diamond to split along the cleavage. Depending on the diamond this can be a risky procedure as a wrong move could shatter the diamond.

-Sawing is a method of splitting a diamond in two with a paper-thin phosphor bronze blade that is charged with diamond dust. Sawing is a long process; it can take up to 8 hours to cut through a one carat diamond! A laser can also be used to cut through a rough diamond.

Diamond Bruting

Bruting or girdling is the process of giving a diamond the round cone shape. It is done by grinding the diamond against another diamond with both diamonds spinning in opposite directions.

Diamond Polishing

Polishing is the process where facets are cut on the diamond and it is then polished. Polishing is performed by holding the diamond on a revolving cast-iron circular disk that is charged with diamond dust.

Final Inspection of the Diamond

The final inspection consists of cleaning the diamond thoroughly and inspecting it to ensure it meets the manufacturer’s standards.

The sparkle and brilliance of our diamond engagement rings (that we all know and love) are all thanks to the knowledge and skill of the diamond cutters.