Diamond Cutting Industry Trades Career Description
Workers in the diamond cutting industry cut and polish rough diamonds in such a way that it will reflect the maximum light.
What am I going to do in this occupation?
You will apply various methods and processes through which a rough diamond is
transformed into a finished product displaying 58 facets of unrivalled beauty and luster. Whilst it is common knowledge that a rough diamond is polished to produce the finished product the complexity and skills of the numerous trades or jobs involved in creating the finished product are not.
Sorting and Marking
These processes are very closely linked. The manufacturing process begins when rough diamonds are purchased from licensed diamond dealers.
The rough diamonds are sorted into various shapes, sizes, colours and qualities of the rough diamonds. Different skills and
expertise may be required for the processing of the diamonds. Certain diamonds need to be sawn, others may be cleaved and others may require division utilising the laser technique etc.
Diamond marker/designer
The objective of the markers are to get the best commercial value from the rough diamond. Markers decide what the final product will look like when it is completed. After full examination of the diamond with consideration given to various aspects such as sawing, cleaving, etc. they will make a decision on how to get the biggest best quality diamond from the piece of rough diamond. A line will be drawn/marked on the stone of the sawyer to follow when sawing the stone. Current market trends in the polished diamond market should be borne in mind.
Diamond Sawyer
In this process of the manufacturing the diamond is sawn into two pieces. The work is done on diamond sawing machines. One person can operate up to 40 sawing machines depending on experience. Stones are set in holders onto the machines and the line drawn by the marker is then followed with the sawing blade.
The Diamond Cutter/Brute
The function of the cutter is to create perfectly round diamonds with the optimum diameter.
In the cutting process one diamond is used to cut another. The one diamond is placed into a cutting/bruting machine (there are various types of machines). Another diamond is placed on a cutting stick and while the diamond in the machine is turning the diamond on the cutting stick is pressed against the stone in the machine. In this way the stone is being cut round.
Cross-worker (Polishing Process)
The function of crossworkers is to lay the foundation of the diamond and to follow the instructions to obtain the optimum value for the finished product. Cross-workers can decide to process a diamond, fully aware that the finished product will contain inclusions. On the other hand a decision may be made to improve the quality with a resulting smaller diamond as a finished product .
The work is done on a polishing disc driven by an electric motor. The disc is covered with diamond powder. The diamond to be polished is held in a clamp and the facets are polished one by one. Crossworkers polish 18 facets to very stringent measurements and angles onto the stone.
Brillianteer (Polishing Process)
The function of brillianteers is to polish 40 facets onto the already polished facets done by the cross-workers, in order to create a round brilliant cut diamond with 58 facets that will unlock the full brilliance and fire of light being reflected by the polished diamond.
Requirements
What kind of personality do I need? Workers must possess a flair for proportion, hand and finger dexterity and good eye-hand co-ordination. They must also have good eyesight, work is done with a magnifying glass. The ability to concentrate for long periods, to work fast and methodical and to do neat and precise work are important qualities for successful diamond workers. Absolute honesty is of the utmost importance. It is not a job for persons who want to socialise with people from outside the work situation.
Where can I work?
You can apply at any diamond cutting factory.
Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Most dentists enter into private practice, where their income depends directly on the size and turnover of the practice. Because the dentists' services are so essential, they will never have a shortage of work.
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