As per our current Database, Laurence Graff is still alive (as per Wikipedia, Last update: May 10, 2020).
Currently, Laurence Graff is 85 years, 10 months and 6 days old. Laurence Graff will celebrate 86rd birthday on a Thursday 13th of June 2024. Below we countdown to Laurence Graff upcoming birthday.
| Popular As | Laurence Graff |
| Occupation | Fashion and Retail |
| Age | 85 years old |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Born | June 13, 1938 (Gstaad, Switzerland, United Kingdom) |
| Birthday | June 13 |
| Town/City | Gstaad, Switzerland, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
Laurence Graff’s zodiac sign is Cancer. According to astrologers, the sign of Cancer belongs to the element of Water, just like Scorpio and Pisces. Guided by emotion and their heart, they could have a hard time blending into the world around them. Being ruled by the Moon, phases of the lunar cycle deepen their internal mysteries and create fleeting emotional patterns that are beyond their control. As children, they don't have enough coping and defensive mechanisms for the outer world, and have to be approached with care and understanding, for that is what they give in return.
Laurence Graff was born in the Year of the Tiger. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Tiger are authoritative, self-possessed, have strong leadership qualities, are charming, ambitious, courageous, warm-hearted, highly seductive, moody, intense, and they’re ready to pounce at any time. Compatible with Horse or Dog.
Graff was born in Stepney in 1938 into a Jewish family, the son of a Romanian mother, Rebecca Segal, and a Russian Father, Harry Graff. His Father made suits off the Commercial Road while his mother ran a tobacconist and newsagents. His brother Raymond was born in 1947.
In 1960, he founded the Graff Diamonds company. In 1966 he commissioned the English jewellery-designer Robert Thomas to design a Diamond jewel to enter into the De Beers Diamond International Awards competition. The ribbon bracelet created won the competition. By 1974, he had begun specialising in selling to newly rich buyers from the Middle East. In particular, he supplied many jewels for Hassanal Bolkiah, the 29th Sultan of Brunei, who became a lifelong client and friend. One day, Prince Turki II bin Abdulaziz Al Saud walked into the shop and bought everything including a 14 carat Diamond. Graff has expanded his company, with over 35 stores in US, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
In 1962, he married Anne-Marie Graff, who is French. They have three (now grown up) children: Francois, Kristelle and Stephane. They reside in Switzerland.
In 2008, Graff purchased the Wittelsbach Diamond for £16.4 million, a considerable premium over the £9 million guide price. Almost two years later, Graff revealed he had had three Diamond cutters repolish the stone to eliminate the chips and improve the clarity, reducing the Diamond from 35.52 carats (7.104 g) to 31 carats (6.2 g). This action has been compared by critics to making the Mona Lisa prettier. However, according to gemologist Richard W. Wise, "At a cost of only 4.45 carats the recut and renamed Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond has been raised from a GIA grade of Fancy Deep Grayish Blue to a Fancy Deep Blue. Its clarity grade has been likewise elevated from VS2 to Internally Flawless (IF). This is a substantial upgrade." Further, the "Graff recut retained the original double stellate brilliant facet pattern thus retaining the overall look of the original stone."
Graff was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to the jewellery industry.
