De Grisogono Ladies White Gold Diamond Instrumentino Watch

Lebanese-Italian jeweler Fawaz Gruosi (b. 1952) founded the Geneva-based de Grisogono in 1993, naming the luxury jewelry company after his mother, who had been the Marquise de Grisogono. He wanted a name that would conjure elegance and rarity. Gruosi would soon have his own aristocratic nickname — “King of Black Diamonds” — for the stones that made his jewelry house famous.

Born in Beirut, Gruosi grew up in Florence and as a teenager got a job with the Florentine jeweler Torrini and went on to work for luxury jewelry houses Harry Winston and Bulgari in the years that followed. When de Grisogono was established, most jewelers favored the simplicity of white diamonds and platinum. Gruosi was more interested in color and diamonds with character. Along with the then-undervalued black diamonds, he designed vibrant pieces that exuberantly mixed stones like emeralds, sapphires, amber, pink opal and jade.

De Grisogono's earrings, bracelets, rings and other audacious pieces bedecked with black diamonds captured the fancy of well-heeled buyers in the 1990s, leading to the brand’s meteoric rise to fame. It entered the world of luxury watches in 2000 with the Instrumento Uno for men, which led to the development of the Crazy Skull in 2015. The playful made-to-order timepiece could be outfitted with up to 45 carats of gems.

Since the early aughts, de Grisogono has become synonymous with A-listers who donned the jeweler’s wares on red carpets; the company was also known for hosting an annual party at the Cannes Film Festival. De Grisogono made headlines in 2017 by partnering with Christie’s to sell a necklace made with a dazzling 163.41-carat emerald-cut diamond for $33.7 million — a record price for a D-color flawless diamond.

In January 2020, the jewelry house filed for bankruptcy. Today, Gruosi continues to sell his intricately designed decadent pieces from his namesake boutique in London.

Find de Grisogono jewelry for sale on 1stDibs, including necklaces, cuff bracelets and other accessories.

Michael Kanners is a third generation jeweler, and throughout the three generations the Kanners family has been known for integrity and superior quality. This is as true of the gems and jewelry as it is of the service. Each and every piece is special and represents a distinct level of craftsmanship and unique design. Where applicable, full certification by the most reputable gemological laboratories is included. Sizing of rings, adjustments, repairs and detailed appraisals are all offered. A large component of Michael's work is the creation of custom designs. These include all types of women's jewels as well as the now famous cufflinks. No request is too large or too small, thanks to Michael's extensive worldwide network of stone dealers, lapidaries and the finest workshops. Don't hesitate to ask, as Michael has become the go to jeweler for a select group of in the know collectors and connoisseurs. Your trust is greatly appreciated and all transactions are handled personally to your complete satisfaction through the 1stdibs guarantee. All inquiries are welcome and are answered immediately regardless of your questions or thoughts. Delivery is overnight to insure the most precise timing, and the finest quality Italian jewelry cases are included.