See full version: This Is the Largest Emerald-Cut Diamond in the World
To achieve Lesedi La Rona’s top D color, exceptional clarity, and excellent polish and symmetry, a custom software was built to analyze the diamond. Then it was cut with a state-of-the-art laser by expert gemologists. [links]
The entire process required hundreds of hours of polishing and it took over 18 months to complete, but for Graff it was well worth it. “We had an immense duty to cut the very, very best diamond imaginable from this rough,” he said, according to WWD. “The Graff Lesedi La Rona is an exceptional diamond, earning its place in history as the largest and finest of its kind in the world.”
“My love affair with diamonds is lifelong, and crafting the Graff Lesedi La Rona has been an honor—it is beyond words,” said Laurence Graff, founder of Graff Diamonds.
Remember when Jennifer Lopez got engaged and your jaw dropped at her rumored-to-be 15-carat diamond ring? You’re gonna want to sit down for this one. Famed jeweler Graff just revealed the largest, highest color, highest clarity diamond ever certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and it’s over 300 carats.
The diamond was cut from a 1,109-carat rough diamond, the second-largest diamond discovered in more than 100 years, according to WWD. If you’re doing the math in your head, don’t worry, the other 806.63 carats did not go to waste. Another 66 other diamonds were cut from the remaining rough diamond that range in size from under a carat to more than 100 carats.
Named the Graff Lesedi La Rona, the ring is 302.37(. ) carats specifically, which makes it the largest square emerald-cut diamond in the world, according to their website. more
The Cullinan Diamond: A photograph of the Cullinan Diamond being held by Frederick Wells, who discovered it while working as the surface manager of the Premier Mine. This photo was taken in 1905 by an unknown photographer.
Carbonado diamonds are masses of microcrystalline diamonds arranged in a variety of crystallographic orientations. They are usually opaque, gray to black in color, and may exhibit obvious pore spaces. Carbonados are a variety of industrial diamonds, not suitable for manufacturing faceted gems. Most of them have been crushed for use as abrasive granules.
The Cullinan II, a cushion-cut brilliant oval of 317.4 carats, was set in the front forehead position of the Imperial State Crown, immediately below the Black Prince's Ruby (which is really a red spinel). To give that position to the Cullinan II, the original gem in that position, the spectacular Stuart Sapphire, a 104-carat oval, was moved to to the back of the crown. here
A diamond size chart can help you determine what might be the right carat weight for you by providing a mm to carat comparison. The diamond size chart is meant to be a reference point, as diameters of diamonds vary based on cut quality. more
To imagine the diamond sizes even better, take a look at this simple image comparison to a US quarter: here
*This graphic shows mm to carat for various carat weights of round diamonds. [links]
You are best off asking one of our experts to guide you through this process. They will be able to help you find the balance between “getting the biggest diamond” and “not wasting money to gain carat size that won’t be noticeable.” You can also refer to our diamond size chart below.
Having been the eighth-largest gem-quality diamond at the time of discovery, the precious stone had a number of cracks and several inclusions at the time.
Diamonds, which have been used as decorative items since ancient times, are the most well-known and sought-after gemstones on the planet.
The job of cutting the diamond was entrusted to world-renowned cutter Gabriel Tolkowsky, who took two years to give it its final “Fire-Rose cushion” shape.