The cleaver requires the greatest amount of skill and know-how in the diamond profession. In order for the cleaver to acquire skill in cleaving diamonds he must first become an unparalleled expert regarding the diamond’s structure and its attributes, and understand the potential of each diamond in its rough state. Due to his experience and skill, the cleaver is well acquainted with the different types of rough stones and he can tell what type of polished diamond can be produced from the rough.
His expertise is all the more valuable when diamonds contain flaws or are structurally complex. An important part of his work is to take advantage of existing cleavage planes in the stone and decide which parts to separate from the rough diamond in order to improve its clarity. At the same time, he must plan how to process the diamond parts that have been separated from the stone.
The cleaver carries a heavy responsibility, particularly in connection to large and complex diamonds, because after the cleaving there is no way to change the decision. This is why the cleaver’s professional opinion is the most important stage of processing rough stones.
