A diamantaire is a professional who evaluates raw diamonds and cuts them into the most suitable shape for the stone’s characteristics and the desired setting. This term is also used to refer to people who work in the diamond industry, particularly if they are senior executives; they may not interact directly with stones during the cutting process, but they do evaluate and acquire stones. People who work in this field typically learn on-the-job, beginning as apprentices and gradually progressing to more advanced tasks.
Diamantaires are usually knowledgeable about other gemstones in addition to diamonds, and can assess and cut a wide range of stones. Their work begins with the examination of raw stones. A small facet is cut into the stone to create a window, and the stone may need to be cleaned. This is used to determine the quality of the stone. The diamond will be graded, and the diamantaire will begin to think about how it can be cut. In the process of turning a raw stone into a finished gemstone, half or more of its weight may be lost.
The diamantaire can work a stone in its entirety, but most raw diamonds are cut into smaller stones and developed separately. A cutting strategy must be devised. Some stones can be cut using only the most fundamental and generic guidelines. In some cases, however, the cutting must be tailored to the stone. The goal is to arrange the facets in such a way that light can bounce around inside the stone and highlight its best features. Inclusions in the stone that make cutting difficult or degrade its quality must be considered the diamantaire.
The actual cutting process entails using a variety of tools to gradually reveal the stone’s facets. After the stone has been completely cut, it can be polished to make it ready for sale. In some parts of the diamond industry, the diamantaire also engraves a code on the stone that tells you where it came from. Companies that participate in programs that certify diamonds as conflict-free, indicating that they were not used to fund wars or other illegal activities, use this practice.
The diamantaire is a skilled artisan who is used to quickly assessing stones and determining the best course of action. The job also necessitates a high level of aesthetic training, as well as familiarity with changing jewelry trends. The goal of gemstone cutting in the past was to preserve as much of the stone as possible. Today, the emphasis is on showcasing the stone’s natural beauty, which may include novel facets patterns to set a stone apart from others.
The diamantaire, in the sense of a diamond industry professional who does not actively cut stones, is in charge of acquiring stones for a diamond company, discussing plans for cutting and displaying them, and interacting with customers interested in purchasing diamonds.