Laurence Graff has the honour to become the new custodian of probably the biggest rough diamond unearthed in the past hundred years, a piece weighing 1,109 carats, a record that is unlikely to be topped for a long time.
With the contribution of ©Donald Woodrow
Who can imagine the thrill of owning a rough diamond weighing over 1,000 carats? Very few people can ever have experienced such an emotion, bringing to light the sensational vibrations of nature.
A few months ago, the renowned Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp reached a record-breaking agreement with Laurence Graff, the gifted jeweller known for his creations and his extraordinary company, regarding what is probably the biggest rough diamond to be unearthed in the past hundred years: a piece weighing 1,109 carats, a record that is unlikely to be topped for a long time.
One of the greatest discoveries of the mining world, the LESEDI LA RONA is an historic diamond, with its own character and a surprising weight.
Its extreme quality, transparency and brilliance has been certified by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America). In the Tswana language of Botswana, where the rough diamond was found, its name means “our light”.
The deal was sealed with magical simplicity: a firm handshake, ending over a year of negotiations for the transfer of this source of natural brilliance in a world of complicated rules. The agreement is worth an estimated 53 million dollars. A gentlemen’s handshake, a mark of days gone by, and a rediscovery of the traditional and gallant ways of doing business. It is an historic deal for the luxury jewellery sector, and will be of certain interest to those both inside and outside this business of adventure, tradition and fascination.
Graff the company, and its founder Laurence Graff, often called the ‘King of Diamonds’ and one of the most admired master diamond cutters, see an exciting future ahead for this giant diamond: “We are thrilled and honoured to become the new custodians of this incredible diamond.
Our highly skilled team of master craftsmen will draw on many years of experience of crafting the most important diamonds, working night and day to ensure that we do justice to this remarkable gift from mother nature. The stone will tell us its story, it will dictate how it wants to be cut, and we will take the utmost care to respect its exceptional properties. This is a momentous day in my career, and I am privileged to be given the opportunity to honour the magnificent natural beauty of the Lesedi La Rona”.
We can thus imagine that this transaction represents a desire to further cement his place as one of the biggest diamantaires of all time by virtue of his creativity and commitment to uncovering the gifts created by nature over millions of years. We wish him all the best.
