Page:A treatise on diamonds and precious stones including their history Natural and commercial.djvu/113

friction is at all times considerable, and when the pincers are heavily loaden, as in polishing large stones, it occasionally increases to such a degree as to soften the solder and displace the diamond; when this accident occurs, it often produces a flaw, and always tears up the surface of the skive. Three or four diamonds may be polished at the same time; and to give each its proper share of attention, is as much as one person can well manage^[1].

Diamonds are brilliant cut, rose cut, table cut, and lasques. The brilliant is deservedly in the highest estimation, as it is the form which shows to the greatest advantage the peculiar lustre of the gem. The brilliant ^[2] may

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1. Formerly, both in India and Europe, before the art of cutting was discovered, diamonds were worn down upon the skive. 'When the mines of Golconda were in their zenith, 400 skives were constantly employed upon the spot.
2. See plate I. fig. 4.