How did they cut the 1,109-carat, US$53 million rough diamond – and where did the pieces go?
The boutique in Central has four of the 67 pieces that will eventually be made from the 1,109-carat gem discovered in 2015
Jewellery containing diamonds cut from the 1,109-carat Lesedi la Rona, the largest rough diamond to have been discovered in more than a century, have made their way to Hong Kong.
We headed to the new flagship salon of Graff, the high jewellery brand, in Central, which has taken possession of four items, for a closer look.
The diamond, which means “our light” in Tswana – the language spoken by five million people in southern Africa – was discovered in Botswana’s Lucara Karowe mine in 2015.
It was acquired by Laurence Graff, founder of Graff Diamonds, in 2017, reportedly for US$53 million.
The only rough diamond larger than the 1,109-carat Lesedi la Rona is the legendary 3,016.75-carat Cullinan, discovered in South Africa in 1905.
After months of anticipation, the jeweller revealed plans to cut the stone into 67 polished diamonds with sizes ranging from just under one carat to more than 100 carats.
Of the 67 gems, more than half will be D Flawless – the highest clarity classification granted to a diamond.
