Graff Diamonds stems from the endeavours of one sole individual: Laurence Graff, born in 1938 into a family of Jewish migrants living in Stepney, a poor district of London’s East End. After these modest beginnings, he left school at the age of 15 and served an apprenticeship at a jeweller’s named Schindler. When the latter went bankrupt, Laurence Graff started selling his own creations to British jewellers. Encountering steadily growing success, he opened the first two boutiques in his name and founded “Graff Diamonds” in 1960. Today, the Maison masters every phase in the manufacturing of its jewellery, from the mining of raw diamonds to the polishing of each one of its creations, right the way through to the distribution network of its finished products.
Over the years, Laurence Graff has worked with some of the most sumptuous gems in the world. It is said that he has had more exceptional diamonds in his hands than any other diamond dealer. The GRAFF book being launched today by Rizzoli publishing retraces the fascinating history of this veritable “self-made man”. This lavishly illustrated work highlights the most beautiful stones behind Graff Diamonds’ international renown. The reader is thus introduced to fantastic photos of the Graff Constellation, the largest D Flawless round diamond in the world at 102.79 carats; the 118.08-carat Delaire Sunrise, the world’s biggest square Fancy Vivid Yellow emerald-cut diamond; and the legendary 603-carat Lesotho Promise cut and polished into 26 magnificent stones subsequently mounted on one of the most expensive necklaces in the world. The book also includes photos from Laurence Graff’s personal archives, illustrating his family’s London beginnings, as well as photographs of his son François, currently CEO of Graff Diamonds.
A total of seven different authors contributed to the writing of the GRAFF book, including Suzy Menkes and Maria Doulton, two well-known international journalists; Vivienne Becker, jewellery historian; Nina Hald, a journalist and writer who has curated royal jewellery exhibitions; Johanna Hardy, an independent fine jewellery consultant; Nicholas Foulkes, a celebrated social historian and author; and finally, Joanne Harris, author of the famous novel, Chocolat.
In addition to his professional activities, Laurence Graff is also involved in a number of philanthropic causes. All proceeds from the GRAFF book will be donated to his charitable foundation FACET (For Africa’s Children Every Time), which supports the education, health and well-being of orphans and vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Click on the photo at the top of this article to see a slideshow of the GRAFF book.
