Ultra-clear 302 carat cut diamond sets new record, London jewellers say
Jewellers yesterday revealed a massive 302.37 carat diamond, cut from a 1,109 carat beast which was discovered in Botswana.
Graff, which cut the stone, said it is the biggest square emerald cut diamond in the world. “It is the highest colour, highest clarity diamond ever graded” by the Gemological Institute of America, the firm said in a statement.
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It said the stone was one of the greatest achievements in the history of diamonds.
Founder Laurence Graff said: “My love affair with diamonds is life-long and crafting the Graff Lesedi La Rona has been an honour. This diamond, our diamond, is beyond words.”
The 302 carat stone was the largest of the diamonds cut from the much larger Lesedi La Rona, meaning “our light” in Tswana. The larger stone was valued at $53m (£40m), but the cut version has not been given a price tag yet.
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“There is a huge amount of good fortune involved in unearthing a rough diamond of this extraordinary beauty and importance. Year after year can go by… month after month can pass… with nothing… then you get lucky,” Graff said.
He added: “Cutting a diamond of this size is an art form, the ultimate art of sculpture. It is the riskiest form of art because you can never add and you can never cover up a mistake, you can only take away. You have to be careful and you have to be perfect.”