The splitting process is applied to precious stones, entailing the clamping of the stone between two elastic jaws, the cutting of a groove in the exposed stone surface, the positioning of an anvil against the stone, and the application of a hammer blow to the groove. The groove aligns parallel to the jaw faces and is cut in a surface which is perpendicular to the faces, the anvil being position against a surface which is opposite that contg. the groove. A laser may be used to cut the groove, and the anvil may be movable. The jaws may be adjustable, being capable of rotary and sliding movements relative to their mountings, and the line followed by the groove-cutting laser may be fixed. The jaws are, thus, used to position the stone accurately relative to the laser.
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