Graf Diamonds has revealed a new magnificent diamond which it says is the largest heart-shaped diamond in the world.

Called The Graff Venus, a 118.78-carat D flawless heart-shaped diamond, reaffirms Graff as the leader in the world of special diamonds exceeding 100 carats, the house says.

The diamond was cut and polished from a 357-carat rough discovered at the Letšeng mine in Lesotho, which had outstanding colour, clarity and quality of the highest standard. 

It took Graff’s team several months of in-depth analysis and examination before the stone was ready to be cut and polished. 

Senior gemmologists scanned the rough, mapping each tiny flaw in 3D and searching for its unique and distinct personality. 

The assessment revealed within the rough diamond’s frosty surface a “phenomenal heart shape diamond that would far exceed 100 carats”.

A heart-shaped diamond must be perfectly faceted and entirely symmetrical to ensure a perfect silhouette and exquisite scintillation - its shape is a work of art in the hands of the master cutter. 

After the initial cuts were made, using advanced laser technology, Graff’s craftsmen took the diamond to the wheel and worked tirelessly, continually assessing and ensuring the vital symmetry of the stone was exact. 

The intensely skilled operation demanded the skills and experience of the world’s finest craftsmen, says Graff, pointing out that the cleft between the two fully rounded spheres of the heart increased the risk of cutting the diamond and required specially made tools bespoke to the task. 

Following many hours of painstaking work, the diamond was sent to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) for certification.

Chairman Laurence Graff comments: “We were given a once in a lifetime opportunity and we created absolute perfection. I am proud to say that we delivered the very best. The Graff Venus is beyond words. It is the most beautiful heart-shaped diamond I have ever seen.”