Like many diamond polishers from his time, I learn that Mr Bombeke began cutting diamonds as a teenager. After completing training at technical school, he was contracted at a polishing factory to cut diamonds for industrial purposes, mostly for the aviation sector. 

By the early 80’s however, he decides to change pathways- to cut colored gemstones.

Around then, an industrial diamond came to me. I needed to cut it, but instead of only cutting it, I added facets. I brought out the personality of the stone. The client was surprised by this.

Later, another diamond came to me: reddish-brown with a black inclusion at the heart of it. I cut it in, a pentagon-shaped princess cut and called it ‘Generalissimo’, because it reminded me of the Pentagon with a black heart. 

There were many stones like this…

It’s all about the creative thing. I’m not unique on that level. There are many people who do design in diamonds. Many times, it’s a modified brilliant cut because that’s the industry standard cut and many clients seem to want that…

That phrase comes up several times during our conversations.

So I try to understand- what makes a personality of a diamond? Color, shine, imperfection, inclusions,…? 

But it isn’t about one particular feature, Mr Bombeke tells me.

Instead, he tells me another client story- where a rough diamond was commissioned to be polished. After looking at the stone, Mr Bombeke proposed a cut that could render a great final look of the polished diamond, with a darker table view. However, it would respond to the way- light would travel through the elements inside the stone, giving the stone an unimitable table view.

While popular industry standard remains the brilliant cut diamond or a modified version of it, the splendor of the popular seem rather dull to Mr Bombeke. When a client entrusts him with a commission, ‘brilliance’ isn’t enough. The diamond must exhibit more than that.

Like most specialist crafts, diamond polishing is a methodical and meticulous process. A slight lapse of attention of extra pressure, could damage the canvas irreversibly.

I’m told however, there is planned- a tiny room for error, where a polisher could likely compensate for slight over-cutting. This tiny room is Mr Bombeke’s design playfield-

To create forms, illusions, effects,…whilst collaborating with or at the least- retaining the original personality of his canvas, the diamond.  

After all this time, what energizes you to continue polishing?

“Every stone is different. It’s about bringing out its personality. It’s the creative thing. Sometime, people will say “Wow! I didn’t think of that”. For me, that’s enough.”