Designed by Fawaz Gruosi, the Founder and Creative Director of de GRISOGONO, this stunning work of art includes a 163.41-carat Flawless D-Colour diamond that was cut from a historical 404-carat diamond. The publicly traded Australian mining company Lucapa Diamond mined this from the Angolan Lulo mine.
This is the most giant emerald-cut diamond ever offered at auction and represents a significant accomplishment for de GRISOGONO.
The transaction surpasses the previous record of US$30,600,000 for a D Flawless Diamond.
International rough diamond broker Nemesis, de GRISOGONO’s strategic partner, purchased the 404-carat raw diamond from the Lulo mine and gave de GRISOGONO the marketing rights to this unique stone. This allowed Fawaz Gruosi to oversee every process step, from rough stone cutting to the incredibly wealthy final high jewelry necklace. The final design was selected in February 2017 and was appropriate for such a monumental stone while paying homage to de GRISOGONO’s audacious inventiveness. 14 incredibly talented craftspeople worked 1,700 hours to create this incredible necklace.
With flawless credentials, this diamond can be tracked from its mine to the masterpiece and complies with the Kimberley Process certification authority. The world’s leading authority on diamonds, colored stones, and pearls, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), has certified the 163.41-carat emerald-cut diamond.
In a statement today, Fawaz Gruosi stated:
“De GRISOGONO and the crew that have worked so hard to transform this amazing stone into this exquisite sculpture, Creation 1, have reached a high point with this auction. It was new terrain because this is the biggest emerald-cut diamond ever offered for sale. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this wonderful trip, from mine to my masterpiece. I am very blessed to have had the chance to work with a historic stone of such quality.”
Nemesis, a partner of de GRISOGONO, has been donating 1% of the hammer price from the sale of “Creation 1” to the foundation Fundação Brilhante (http://www.endiama.co.ao/en/the-endiama-group/brilliant-foundation/brilliant-foundation-the-soc-ial-face/49) as part of a long-term commitment to local communities in mining areas. As part of its mission to promote constructive social change in the neighborhoods surrounding Angolan mines, Fundação Brilhante has promised to use the contribution to help build a primary school and health center next to the Lulo mine.
Conclusion
- “Creation 1,” a remarkable art piece by de GRISOGONO, featuring a record-breaking 163.41-carat Flawless D-Colour diamond, has shattered auction records as the largest emerald-cut diamond ever offered for sale.
- Fawaz Gruosi, the Founder and Creative Director of de GRISOGONO, oversaw the entire process, from the 404-carat raw diamond’s extraction by Lucapa Diamond from the Angolan Lulo mine to the creation of the final high jewelry necklace, which took 1,700 hours to craft.
- The auction transaction surpassed the previous record for a D Flawless Diamond, reaching a historic milestone of over US$30,600,000, and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certified the 163.41-carat emerald-cut diamond.
- Nemesis, de GRISOGONO’s strategic partner, not only purchased the raw diamond but also donated 1% of the hammer price from the sale to the Fundação Brilhante, supporting the foundation’s commitment to constructive social change in local communities near Angolan mines, including the construction of a primary school and health center near the Lulo min