Diamantaire-billionaire Laurence Graff OBE's incredible success story could be likened to that of finding a rough diamond and polishing it into an exquisite stone. He founded his first company at 18 and, at age 20, established Graff Diamonds in 1960. Two years later, the 24-year-old entrepreneur opened two small retail stores.
In 2013, Graff was appointed the highest honour by the British monarchy - the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his lifelong services to the jewellery industry. Awarded by the late Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his distinguished work and dedication to his craft, the title further cemented his moniker of The King of Diamonds.
Today, Graff remains one of the few high jewellery houses to be owned and run by its founding family. While his son François is CEO, Laurence Graff is chairman of the vertically integrated company. Playing an integral role in strategic decision-making from mine to store, the diamond magnate is known to be involved in every step of the process.
Graff not only owns over 60 boutiques around the world, he is also one of the key leaders of Gem Diamonds, which has mines in Lesotho and Botswana, and South African Diamond Corporation (SAFDICO), a leading diamond producer that serves as Graff's polishing and procurement division.
Only the best polishers and cutters work in Graff workshops in Antwerp, Botswana and New York City, while the magic of assembling spectacular jewels happens at the Graff jewellery workshop in Mayfair, London, where its headquarters is based. Directing production in this workshop is the founder's brother and master craftsman Raymond Graff. The latter's son Elliott Graff, who is also Laurence's mentee, handles operational logistics, merchandising, design and the purchasing of the house's major diamonds.
UNRIVALLED CRAFTSMANSHIP
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