Graff Lever-Back Earrings
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 Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
2010s Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1990s American Modern Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Graff Lever-Back Earrings
White Diamond, White Gold
2010s Swiss Modern Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century French Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modern Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Swiss Modern Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Contemporary Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Yellow Sapphire, Diamond, Brown Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Graff Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Graff lever-back earrings for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Graff
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.