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Ch. 11: Gem and Diamond Cutting

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62                             PRECIOUS STONES
CHAPTER XI.
THE CUTTING OF PRECIOUS STONES.
As existing in a state of nature precious stones do not, as a rule, exhibit any of those beautiful and wonderful properties which cause them to be so admired and sought after as to become of great intrinsic value, for their sur­faces have become clouded by innumerable fine cuts or abrasions, because of the thousands of years during which they ha've been under pressure, or tumbled about in rivers, or subjected to the incessant friction caused by surround­ing substances. All this occurring above and under ground has given them an appearance altogether different to that which follows cutting and polishing, Further, the shape of the stone becomes altered by the same means, and just as Michael Angelo's figure was already in the marble, as he facetiously said, and all he had to do was to chip off what he did not require till he came to it, so is the same process of cutting and polishing necessary to give to the precious stones their full value, and it is the manner in which these delicate and difficult operations are performed that is now under consideration. Just as experience and skill are essential to the obtaining of a perfect figure from the block of marble, so must the cut­ting and polishing of a precious stone call for the greatest dexterity of which a workman is capable, experience and
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