Laurence Graff’s story begins, fittingly, in London’s Hatton Garden, after he dropped out of school at 14 to start an apprenticeship in jewellery repair (which included a brief stint cleaning toilets).

Eight years later, he founded Graff Diamonds, renowned for handling some of the world's most valuable – and ethically sourced – gemstones. The business has grown from a modest London workshop into a global titan, largely due to Graff’s steer. Early on, he travelled extensively to sell high-value custom pieces direct to high-value buyers in the Middle East and Asia and bid for headline-making pieces at auctions to curate a private stockpile of rare gems.

That canniness has continued. While the luxury market has been experiencing a slowdown, Graff Diamonds has modernised its product offerings to reach new customers, unveiling its first gender-neutral line of jewellery in 2024.

Laurence Graff is today known as the King of Bling and was awarded an OBE in 2013. He’s amassed an enormous personal fortune, with an estimated net worth of around £3.75bn, shared with his son and Graff Diamonds CEO, François Graff. From apprentice to industry progenitor, Graff's story is, like the diamond trade itself, built to hold its value across multiple Graff generations.