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Diamond Cutting & Polishing Tools

When people think of diamonds, they think of glamor, beauty and wealth. However, most do not think of machines. But diamond manufacturers, like the manufacturers of most other resources, must use certain tools to take diamonds from their rough early condition to the glassy, colorful state of the diamond in rings, bracelets or earrings.

Diamond Saw
- It takes a diamond to saw a diamond, according to All About Gemstones. For diamond sawing, diamond manufacturers use a phosphor bronze saw blade. The phosphor bronze saw blade (a very thin disk that rotates against the diamond) knocks diamond dust from the diamond. The blade, then coated in the diamond dust, can cut the diamond itself. The diamond dust from the diamond itself actually cuts the gem. The process can take several hours for a single-carat diamond.
Diamond Bruting
- The bruiting process creates a rounded outline on a diamond, according to Diamond Ideals. This creates the basic shape which the polisher uses to add facets to the diamond. The bruiting machine consists of two separate lathes which hold the diamonds and rotates one diamond against another. The diamonds sharpen down the edges to create a conical plane on which the polisher can work.
Polishing Wheel
- The polishing wheel (or scaif) allows adept diamond polishers to finish a diamond. The wheel consists of a disk that revolves at 2,000 revolutions per minute, held in a wooden rest by clamps, according to J.J. Kent. Polishers coat the wheel with diamond dust and olive oil to aid in removing surface flaws from the diamond. The pressure at which the diamond touches the polishing wheel is set by lead weights. It requires a large amount of dexterity and finesse to polish the diamond without removing any of the shape.

Gemology