The 302.37 carat Graff Lesedi La Rona is the largest highest colour, highest clarity diamond ever certified by the GIA, and the world’s largest square emerald cut diamond, expertly cut and polished by Graff’s world leading team of gemmologists and master polishers. This rare marvel required over 18 months of meticulous craftsmanship, and marks an historic moment in diamond history. We invite you to learn more about its journey, from its 1,109 carat rough form to its final, precious silhouette.
Expert Analysis
METICULOUS PLANNING Using highly sophisticated software, custom built to tackle the magnitude of the Lesedi La Rona, Graff’s gemmologists looked deep within the diamond, plotting the natural imperfections inside the stone with complete precision. At first, the analysis of the stone concluded that a 300 carat principal diamond simply wasn’t achievable. Laurence Graff, however, was convinced that it could be possible and he set the challenge to the team of expert gemmologists and highly skilled polishers.
Pioneering Technology
LASER PRECISION The initial incisions to the stone were made with state-of-the-art lasers. Graff’s master craftsman, an expert in this field and a classically trained musician, used his highly attuned musician’s ear to listen for the smooth progression of the laser.
An Elite Team
PEERLESS POLISHING A rough diamond is a natural substance; a complex crystal with subtle idiosyncrasies that must be respected. It required hundreds of hours of polishing to achieve the mirror-smooth surface of the Graff Lesedi La Rona, a perilous process navigated by Graff’s master craftsmen thanks to their decades upon decades of artisanal skill and expertise.
A Sensational Result
THE MASTERPIECE REVEALED Upon sending this masterpiece of technical audacity and diamond artistry to the GIA for certification, it was confirmed that Laurence Graff’s challenge had not only been met, but exceeded. The Graff Lesedi La Rona weighed an awe-inspiring 302.37 carats and was a top D colour, with exceptional clarity and both excellent polish and symmetry.
Exceptional Satellite Stones
AN HISTORIC COLLECTION Alongside the Graff Lesedi La Rona, a total of 66 beautiful “satellite” diamonds were also polished from the world-famous rough diamond, ranging in size from under a carat to in excess of 26 carats. Each diamond is inscribed with Graff, Lesedi La Rona and its unique GIA number, and accompanied with a certificate of authenticity from Graff and the GIA.
