Monday, June 29, 2009

ICE.

IMAGINE TAKING A LUMP
of carbon and transforming it into a
world class diamond. Antonio Bianco was a
diamond cutter, an artist of legendary skill,
who could accomplish this. Famous
throughout the world of rare gems, he
was known for his meticulous technique
and perfectionism. His co-workers knew
when he was nearly finished cutting a stone,
because he would start to sing opera.
x
Some of the stones he cut were famous
enough to be given their own names.

ANTONIO BIANCO / DECEMBER 26, 1951-
JUNE 15, 2009
X
He was known for his ability to look at a rough
stone and sense the diamond within. Major
investors flew him around the world, from his
home base in New York's diamond district,
when they were considering buying and
having a stone cut for them.
x
He was one of the few cutters of the
biggest stones, most of whom worked
in Antwerp. To visualize the size, a
5 carat diamond is smaller than a dime.
Most master cutters do not cut any larger
than 50 carats, the size of a quarter.
A 100 carat stone is almost unimaginable.
Bianco cut about half a dozen of those
stones. His most famous stones were
"Dream", and "Golden Star", both
yellow diamonds and "Flame", a pear
shaped white diamond. Each is worth
tens of millions of dollars.

XXXXXXXXXXXXFLAME
X
He said he could "hear" a flaw inside
a stone, by the way the grinder's wheel
changed its "song" as the flaw grew
close. He would spend months cutting
and polishing the stone till he could look
into its heart. The heat of the wheel
"excites" the molecules of the diamond,
which can alter its color. Bianco let his
diamonds rest till "they behaved
themselves again".


When he began
singing "opera", the stone was done.

x

16 comments:

Unknown said...

That is SO interesting that he could hear a flaw within the grinding! Bianco was obviously put on this earth to do what he was doing.

My diamonds aren't nearly those sizes, nor do they have names. Damn!

A Cuban In London said...

May he rest in peace, and I hope he went down to his grave singing 'Le Figaro'. Many thanks for this heartfelt tribute.

Greetings from London.

Lyn said...

Hi Gaston-
Thank you..I love discovering these outstanding lives!
I have my mother's engagement ring..I think I'll call it Hello Gorgeous!

Lyn said...

Greetings to A Cuban-
Thank you..he was one of a kind! Absolutey Figaro!!

Butternut Squash said...

That's a very cool story. I work with lots of stone cutters but none of them do the high end cutting. They do have to be very sensitive to the story hidden in the stone. Peace.

Lyn said...

Hi Butternut-
That is quite a profession..interesting that you work with cutters..thanks!

Jeane Myers said...

Lyn, this was so wonderfully interesting! I loved this post :)

Lyn said...

Hi Jeane-
Thank you...Sometimes I discover these unique people when I sadly read their obits. Singular lives!

Natalie said...

I loved this one, Lyn. Who could resist diamonds? What a gifted craftsman, what a loss to the industry.xx♥

Lyn said...

Hi Natalie-
Thank you! So much to discover...every day! Isn't that great!!

Deedee said...

He heard the flaws in the stone...A master of any craft seems to be able to get deep into the heart of the work. Great post, Lyn.

Lyn said...

Hi Deedee-
Thank you..those who are lucky in their work do seem to be blessed with this ability...

Kat Mortensen said...

What a fantastic tribute piece. I'm sure he would be pleased. He was not very old, at all.

Kat

Lyn said...

Hi Kat-
Thank you..I'm so glad you found this to be interesting..

Unknown said...

Hi Lyn,

I'm sure I could be quite happy with just a tiny one of these. Are there any offcuts around?

Nice to know that this gentleman could create such beauty even if most of us can only gaze upon it from afar!

Lyn said...

Hi Derrick,
Thanks..indeed, a chip here and a chip there could add up! Amazing that someone commissions one of these to be cut!

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