Graff
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.
Average Sold Price |
$58,168 |
Styles |
Related Creators |
2010s English Graff
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Graff
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Graff
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s English Graff
Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Graff
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Graff
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold, Platinum
2010s Graff
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s English Graff
Diamond, Platinum
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Graff jewelry & watches for sale on 1stDibs.
- Is Graff worth it?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2024Yes, many jewelry lovers believe that Graff is worth it. 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. Naturally, diamonds are featured prominently in Graff jewelry, which is known for being more avant-garde, although Graff creates classic pieces, too. The jeweler’s ready-to-wear collections integrate 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. However, whether or not it’s worth investing in Graff jewelry is totally subjective! At 1stDibs, we believe in buying what you love. Our shopping experience enables discovery and learning, whether you are a seasoned connoisseur or just beginning your collection. Find Graff jewelry and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
- How luxurious is Graff?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertJune 6, 2024Graff is very luxurious. In fact, most experts refer to the brand as ultra-luxury due to the level of quality and the high price points associated with the British maker. 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. While many jewels, such as the Graff Lesedi La Rona, remain in Graff's collection, the company does sell extremely high-quality stand-alone jewels. Gems in its showrooms can reportedly fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars on average. Additionally, the house works with more affordable, yet still exceptional, gems for its collections. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Graff jewelry.
- 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.
- Are Graff diamonds real?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 29, 2024Yes, Graff diamonds are real. In fact, the British luxury jewelry maker 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. In addition to diamond jewelry, the maison also sells standalone diamonds. On 1stDibs, shop a large collection of Graff diamond jewelry.
- Is Graff Diamonds a good brand?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 14, 2024Yes, Graff Diamonds is a good brand. Simply referred to by the name Graff rather than Graff Diamonds International Ltd., the brand is widely celebrated for creating engagement rings, necklaces, rings, earrings, stand-alone jewels, watches and more, all entirely in-house. 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. While diamonds are the main focus for Graff, the brand’s jewelry occasionally features other precious and semiprecious stones. Shop a variety of Graff jewelry on 1stDibs.
- Is Graff ultra high-end?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024Yes, Graff is ultra high-end. Experts reserve this term for brands that create pieces of unrivaled quality using only the finest available materials. Graff fits this definition by producing all of its jewelry in-house, adorning its pieces with high-quality gemstones in elegant settings that best display their natural beauty. The luxury jewelry maker is also 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. Explore a variety of Graff jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2024How much the Graff Pink is worth today is unknown. When it sold at auction in 2010, the gemstone fetched a selling price of $46 million. At the time, it was the most expensive diamond ever to be sold. Today, the gemstone is likely worth more. The 24.78-carat pink diamond gets its name from the buyer, Laurence Graff, a diamond dealer and the founder of the luxury jewelry brand. Its previous owner was another legendary jeweler, Harry Winston. Find a wide variety of diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.