Graff Engagement Rings
The British jeweler Sir Laurence Graff (b. 1938) became utterly mesmerized by diamonds when he undertook his first apprenticeship at age 15 in London’s Hatton Garden jewelry district. It wasn't long before he established his now-celebrated eponymous brand, which produces engagement rings, necklaces, rings, earrings, stand-alone jewels, watches and more — all entirely in-house.
Graff had enrolled in classes at Central School of Arts and Crafts, and while he initially showed promise and was highly regarded, the shop owner, Mr. Schindler — who had his apprentice scrubbing floors and toilets — soon changed his tune, deeming him subpar. Undeterred, Graff learned to repair rings and designed small jewels at a humble workbench in his bedroom. He opened a 24-hour ring-repair service with a business partner and, in 1960, founded his luxury house. Two retail locations followed in London in 1962. Graff would go on to become one of the finest diamantaires in the world and was appointed an OBE in 2013 by Queen Elizabeth for his services to the jewelry industry.
Graff is known for handling some of the most famous diamonds in the world, including the Windsor Yellows, the Paragon, the Lesotho Promise and the Wittelsbach-Graff. He also purchased the 302.37-carat Graff Lesedi La Rona, which, at the time, was the largest diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America. The GIA certified the diamond — then the second-largest gem-quality rough diamond on record — as being of highest color and highest clarity. Lucara Diamond Corporation workers discovered the 1,109-carat rough diamond in 2015 at the Karowe mine in Botswana, and after Graff purchased the diamond in 2017, his gemologists and craftsmen spent more than 18 months polishing its final facets.
While many jewels, such as the Graff Lesedi La Rona, remain in Graff’s collection, he does sell extremely high-quality stand-alone jewels. Gems in his showrooms can reportedly fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars on average. Although these stones are perhaps slightly out of the budget of a typical Graff jewelry client, the house does work with more reasonably priced, but no less exceptional gems for its collections.
Naturally, diamonds feature prominently in Graff jewelry, which is known for being more avant-garde than traditional, although Graff does create classic engagement rings, too. The jeweler’s ready-to-wear collections integrate naturalistic motifs like butterflies, bows and sunbursts, as well as striking silhouettes like the crisscrossed Kiss, the clustered Threads and the swirling Inspired by Twombly line, which pays homage to the work of American painter and sculptor Cy Twombly. And while diamonds are the main focus for Graff, his jewelry occasionally features other precious and semiprecious stones.
Browse Graff watches, rings, earrings and other accessories on 1stDibs.
21st Century and Contemporary British Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Modern Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s American Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
20th Century Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Pink Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Early 2000s American Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Graff Engagement Rings
Emerald, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1950s Vintage Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Early 2000s Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary British Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary British Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
White Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Yellow Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Graff Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Shop Antique, New and Vintage Engagement Rings on 1stDibs
Shopping for the right antique, new or vintage engagement ring can prove daunting. Whether you’re looking for that perfect Art Deco engagement ring, an antique Edwardian period engagement ring or a fashionable contemporary alternative, it’s important to choose a style that speaks to you.
Rings have long been signifiers of marriage and committed relationships. The modern diamond engagement ring can be traced back to 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria commissioned an expensive diamond ring for his betrothed. Diamond rings subsequently became extremely popular among the European aristocracy. Later, during the Victorian era, the popularity of diamond engagement rings had filtered down to the middle class, owing to the increasing accessibility — and affordability — of gold and diamonds.
Authentic antique Victorian-era engagement rings were frequently set in rose or yellow gold and they are highly collectible. Designs for Victorian engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal. Diamonds were likely to be small rose- or old-mine-cut (the ancestor of today’s cushion-cut) stones. The former are often associated with antique styles like Victorian or Georgian, as rose-cut diamonds are uncommon in modern jewelry. The diamonds were typically set in a group of five in a band or as a solitaire.
Victorian-era engagement rings also saw other gemstones accompanying diamonds. Small seed pearls and moonstones were popular. Other sentimental and romantic motifs such as hearts and stars took hold as well. When Prince Albert became engaged to Queen Victoria, he gave her a serpent ring with emerald eyes, her birthstone. This initiated a widespread craze for snake jewelry.
In 1886, esteemed American luxury firm Tiffany & Co. introduced its solitaire diamond design, which is still among the most popular styles of engagement rings. The Tiffany Setting raises the stone above the band on six prongs, allowing its facets to catch the light and reflect through the stone.
French jewelry house Cartier, which pioneered the use of platinum in fine jewelry and helped define Art Deco, sought to render the diamonds in their engagement rings and other rings as brilliantly as possible. The brand’s timeless Solitaire 1895 engagement ring gave the impression of delicate lace.
Edwardian and, afterward, Art Deco engagement rings that followed in the wake of Queen Victoria’s death in 1901 would be characterized by complex geometric designs and platinum settings. Owing to the Art Nouveau movement, nature was a major theme for Edwardian jewelry, while the diamond ring designs of the Art Deco period were inspired by Cubism as well as ancient Egypt. Art Deco engagement rings are bold and colorful and feature gems cut in nontraditional ways.
Engagement rings designed during World War II were made from two-toned metals and smaller stones. Large stones were scarce, and platinum was reserved for the military. Postwar engagement rings were intended to be simpler and focused on the beauty of the diamond. In 1947, De Beers Consolidated Mines, with the support of Philadelphia ad agency N.W. Ayer & Son, introduced the slogan “A diamond is forever” in a marketing campaign that emphasized a connection between diamonds and romance. Diamond sales skyrocketed, and diamond engagement rings became intertwined with the post–World War II marriage boom, which coincided with the ascension of specific diamond cuts.
The round brilliant cut, which consists of an astounding 58 facets, continues to be the most popular cut to this day. Jewelers such as Harry Winston had already gained a reputation for his talents by the time the De Beers campaign debuted, and he is said to have favored emerald-cut diamonds.
For everything from understanding the 4Cs to choosing between antique, vintage, contemporary and custom styles, get expert tips to help you find just the right ring.
When you’re ready to mark your momentous occasion, find a vast collection of engagement rings on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Graff
- Is Graff high-end?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024Yes, Graff is high-end. Since its founding by Sir Laurence Graff, the British jewelry maker has become well known for carefully crafting jewelry using premium precious metals and gemstones. Graff is known for handling some of the most famous diamonds in the world, including the Windsor Yellows, the Paragon, the Lesotho Promise and the Wittelsbach-Graff. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of Graff jewelry.