Scaif

Not to be confused with scaife.

A scaif is a polishing wheel infused with a mixture of olive oil and diamond dust used in the diamond cutting industry.[1] It was invented in the late 15th century by Lodewyk van Bercken in Antwerp.[2][3]

With the scaif, it became possible to both polish and cut facets of the diamond symmetrically and with great precision, also allowing for more complex cuts to be made.[4] This invention revolutionized the diamond cutting industry and, correspondingly, greatly increased the popularity of diamonds.[5]

The scaif consists of a hard disk, parallel to the floor. The disk looks like and is rotated in the same way as a potter's wheel. On the top surface a film of olive oil and diamond dust is placed. Surrounding the disk is a circular frame to catch the oil that is spun off as the disk is rotated.

Hovering just above the surface of the disk is a mechanical arm to hold the diamond. It can be finely adjusted, to move the diamond into the exact position needed for polishing the facets. As the facets are polished more diamond dust is produced, replenishing the supply.

  1. ^ "How Diamonds Are Cut & Polished". RockHer.com. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  2. ^ Smillie, Ian (2014-04-10). Diamonds. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-7456-8280-8.
  3. ^ Epstein, Edward Jay (1982). The Diamond Invention. Hutchinson. ISBN 978-0-09-147690-8.
  4. ^ CTDM (2019-10-22). "The History of Diamond Cutting". Cape Town Diamond Museum. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  5. ^ "The most influential diamond cutters throughout the ages". Pala Diamonds. 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2024-11-04.