which
would pass through the interior flaw. Of the resulting two pieces, if
the cleaving was successful, one should be cut as a large pendeloque or
drop shape, and the other cleaved again for a large brilliant and other
smaller gems of various sizes and shapes. The preliminary work of
making a V-shaped incision, with a diamond sharp, in the grain of the
great crystal where it was to be split, was accomplished, and the
moment arrived when the blow must be struck which would make or mar the
greatest diamond in the world. The nick in the edge of the crystal was
about half an inch deep. Into this incision, in the presence of his two
brothers of the firm, and three representatives of the British
Government, Mr. J. Asscher placed a specially constructed knife blade
and making ready, struck it a heavy blow. There was a splitting,
breaking sound, but on opening the hand which covered the diamond, that
was found intact — the blade had broken. Another blade and another
blow, and the crystal parted in twain, the facets of the two parts
smooth as glass, except where the cleavage passing through the flaw,
left a little icing to show where it had been and which would soon
disappear with the cutting.
For
the cutting, special tools had been prepared. The drop, 6 inches across
and weighing twenty pounds, was attached to a lever so that the stone
could be raised from or lowered to the wheel by foot power. The mill,
of cast iron, measured 16-1/2 inches across and made 2400 revolutions per minute. The cutting was placed in charge of Mr. Henri Koe.
Great
precautions were taken for the safety of the stone. No one was allowed
to leave or enter the cutting room, where the three men employed in
the cutting
