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 |
| $31,455 |
| Styles |
| Related Creators |
21st Century and Contemporary Graff
21st Century and Contemporary Graff
Diamond, Platinum
1980s Vintage Graff
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Graff
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
20th Century Graff
Diamond, Platinum
Early 2000s Graff
Diamond, Platinum
1990s English Graff
Diamond, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Graff
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Popular Searches
Graff Sale Prices
| Sold Date | Sold Price | Category | Material | Creation Year | ||||||||||||||||
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| $31,455 |
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months |
| $15,000-$64,000 |
| Sold price range of items in the past 12 months |
Creators Similar to Graff
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.
- 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 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 watches good?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024Whether Graff watches are good is largely subjective. However, many watch lovers praise the quality of Graff watches. As a luxury watchmaker and a world-renowned jeweler, Graff is best known for its stunning diamond watches. The company has set records for the most expensive watches ever made with some of these diamond-studded timepieces, such as the Hallucination and the Fascination, which sold for $55 million and $40 million, respectively. Graff watches typically feature highly precise movements manufactured by legendary Swiss makers, such as Audemars Piguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Graff watches and jewelry.
- Where are Graff watches made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024Graff watches are made in Switzerland. The luxury maker has its atelier in Geneva, where its artisans assemble and finish all Graff watches. Most Graff movements come from other Swiss makers, including Vaucher, F.P. Journe and ETA. Explore a selection of Graff watches 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024The cost of the most expensive Graff watch is likely to change over time as the luxury watchmaker unveils new timepieces. However, one of the priciest watches Graff has ever produced is the Hallucination, which carried a $55 million price tag when it debuted in 2014. This platinum bracelet watch features 110 carats of fancy diamonds in yellow, blue, pink and other colors. It took a team of 30 specialists four and a half years to handcraft the quartz watch. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Graff watches.
- 1stDibs ExpertDecember 5, 2024Laurence Graff owns the Graff diamond watch. The luxury watchmaker has introduced two watches that the title "Graff diamond watch" refers to — the Hallucination and the Fascination. Both have estimated values above $40 million and remain in Graff's possession. On 1stDibs, you can shop a collection of Graff watches.
- 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 ExpertOctober 30, 2024How much the Wittelsbach-Graff diamond is worth today is unknown. However, when jeweler Laurence Graff purchased it at an auction in 2008, he paid $24.3 million. At that time, the winning bid was the highest price ever paid for a diamond. After its discovery in the 17th century, the diamond became a gift to Philip IV of Spain's daughter. It was also owned by German royalty for a number of years. Graff is known for handling some of the most famous diamonds in the world, and the Wittelsbach-Graff diamond is just one of the many famous gemstones that Graff has added to his collection. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of Graff diamond jewelry.
- 1stDibs ExpertDecember 17, 2024The Graff Diamonds Hallucination watch is so expensive for a few reasons. First, it features 110 fancy-colored diamonds and platinum metal, which are costly materials. Also, each diamond rests in a handcrafted setting and is hand-cut. As a result, the watch required thousands of hours of work to produce, leading to tremendous labor costs. Finally, Graff produced only one of the timepieces, and its rarity adds to its value. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of Graff watches and jewelry.