Engraving a coat-of-arms

For sketching the stone is painted opaque white.

   

 

 

Ready, steady, go.

By the way, off-the-shelf milling cutters, used by goldsmiths and in dental labs, do not run smoothly enough for the purpose. So engravers actually produce their tools themselves from tool-steel blanks.

Engravers need steady hands as the whole process is performed freehandedly.

 

 

 

The actual cutting is achieved by diamond powder mixed with oil, applied by means of a quill.

For faster cutting, more diamond is required, applied by the mortar used to grind the diamond powder.

 

Almost done.

 

Final polish.

 

 

Imprint in sealing wax.

 

 

Ready for shipping.