| Laurence Graff was born and raised in London, starting an apprenticeship with a jeweller in the Hatton Garden jewellery district at an early age. Within a short space of time he began making his own pieces and by the time he was 24 years old he had opened two jewellery shops in London. He started travelling the world, creating more important diamond pieces as his clientele grew. By the age of 30 Graff had built up one of the largest jewellery manufacturing businesses in Britain, and counted some of the world's wealthiest individuals as his customers. In 1973 Graff became the first jeweller to be presented with the Queen's Award to Industry and Export, an award he would go on to win on three more occasions. In the same year he opened his first major retail establishment in London's prestigious Knightsbridge. |
