Graff and the Lesedi La Rona

Laurence Graff, the founder and chairman of Graff, has in the past been nicknamed the King of Diamonds. Last autumn, Graff gave new meaning to his sparkling sobriquet by successfully purchasing the Lesedi La Rona rough diamond, in a deal valued at $53 million.

The largest rough diamond mined in over a century, the Lesedi La Rona weighs a staggering 1,109 carats. The record-breaking gem was first discovered in northern Botswana, at the Lucara Karowe mine and its triple-barrel name translates 'our light' in Tswana, the country's official language.

Now, a little over one year post Graff acquiring the stone, the diamantaire is debuting the first analysed, cut and polished stones hewn from the raw diamond, ranging in size from just shy of one carat to over 100 carats. All stones will be certified by the Gemological Institute of America, with their colour graded the highest top D.

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