lars
worth. Nearly forty million dollars worth of various kinds were
imported into the United States during 1906. As many of these were
uncut, the value of that portion of them was largely increased after
their arrival.
A
large proportion of the diamonds sold in the United States, pass, in
the beginning, through comparatively few hands. Some by way of cutters,
who import rough diamonds and cut them here. As the diamond syndicate
sells the rough in large parcels for cash, and will give a " sight," as
the opportunity to look at the original lots from Africa on arrival in
London is termed, to but few, these firms must be strong financially,
and well equipped to handle the rough, and market the finished
material. This means that they must not only have considerable
capital, but good banking facilities, a large shop, and a connection
with large buyers. There are a number of smaller cutters who could
neither get a " sight " in London, nor handle the parcels offered, if
they could. These depend on the irregular offerings of independent
miners, for their supplies, or on the odd stones and small lots thrown
on the market by firms who do buy at first hands.
The large cutters sell their product to importers
and jobbers usually. Some divide their original parcels, and apportion
the division among firms generally supposed to be cutters, but who do
not actually own or operate the cutting shops. One firm cuts fine
material only, as perfectly as possible, regardless of the loss of
weight necessary to secure exact faceting and the proper outline and
proportions. A few large retailers who have customers willing to pay
very high prices for stones which are un-
