A massive diamond of 302.37 carats was unveiled to the world by Graff jewellers. Discovered in Botswana, the Graff Lesedi La Rona is the largest, highest colour, highest clarity (to(p D colour) diamond ever graded by the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) – and the largest square emerald cut diamond "in history", according to a statement issued by Graff.
It was cut from the 1 109 carat Lesedi La Rona rough diamond, which means "Our Light" in Tswana. From discovery to completion the process of analysing, cutting and polishing the Graff Lesedi La Rona took over 18 months. Graff has cut and polished the majority of the 20 largest diamonds discovered this century, the statement said.
According to Laurence Graff, who founded Graff in 1960, his love affair with diamonds has been life-long and crafting the Graff Lesedi La Rona is "beyond words". Found at the Lucara Karowe mine in Botswana, the rough diamond was the largest gem quality rough diamond discovered in over 100 years, and the second largest ever found, according to Graff.
Graff was confident that buying the 1 109 carat Lesedi La Rona rough diamond would result in sensational polished gems, as he had already purchased a 373-carat rough diamond in May 2016, believed to have come from the same rough stone.