Quantcast
  We will be migrating to a new server in the next two weeks, and apologize for any temporary slow response Portal logo
Login/Register
 
/diamonds/catelle-the-diamond/page_119 - 4
 

Ch. 6: Inherent Diamond Qualities & Cutting

Ch. 6: Inherent Diamond Qualities & Cutting Page of 448 Ch. 6: Inherent Diamond Qualities & Cutting Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
116
THE DIAMOND
trifled, it retains the charge for a very short time only; never more than half an hour.
The diamond is infusible, and is unaffected by acids and alkalies, but it burns in oxygen under intense heat to carbon dioxide and leaves no residue.
Though very hard, it is also very brittle and can be easily crushed to powder. It has a very perfect cleav­age, separating readily parallel to the faces of the octa-hedra. The fracture is conchoidal or curved.
Because of its hardness, the art of cutting the diamond as it is now cut, was acquired only after centuries of ex­periment. The ancients wore their diamonds uncut. Not as a matter of choice, for they knew them only in that form. They did not cut them because they could find nothing hard enough to make any impression upon the obdurate though beautiful stones. With Oriental philosophy they accepted the crystals as Nature made them and were satisfied. To-day even, well-formed crys­tals, or " Naifes," as they are called, are prized in India. Some thousands of years ago, however, it probably oc­curred to an observant Oriental that the stone might be turned against itself to smooth the rough places which marred the symmetry and brilliancy of many of the crys­tals. From that time hackl'd stones were improved by
Ch. 6: Inherent Diamond Qualities & Cutting Page of 448 Ch. 6: Inherent Diamond Qualities & Cutting
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
bullet Tag
This Page