We are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking collaboration with the incomparable luxury jewellery house Graff, offering a unique opportunity for the first-year students of our  BA (Hons) Jewellery Design & Production degree.  

For over half a century, Graff has operated at the very pinnacle of the high jewellery industry, discovering and crafting diamonds of brilliance and rarity, transforming the hidden wonders of the earth into spectacular pieces of jewellery that move the heart and stir the soul. Founded by Laurence Graff OBE in 1960, the company remains a family business with Francois Graff as CEO. To this day, the journey of every jewel is overseen by a member of the Graff family with passion, experience and uncompromising attention to detail at every stage.  

As part of this collaboration, Graff has provided each student enrolled in BAJ’s BA (Hons) Jewellery Design & Production degree with a clear resin 3D print of a pear-shaped white diamond as the centrepiece for their creative exploration. The remarkable Graff pear shape 18.38 carat diamond, from which the resin print was created, is a satellite stone from the record-breaking 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona rough diamond, which was discovered in 2015 and purchased by Graff in 2017.  

The principal Graff diamond cut from the Lesedi La Rona is the largest, highest colour, highest clarity diamond ever certified by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and the world’s largest square emerald cut diamond, at 302.37 carats. Alongside the Graff Lesedi La Rona, 66 beautiful satellite diamonds were also polished from the world-famous rough diamond, ranging in size from under a carat to in excess of 26 carats.   

The task assigned to the students is to design a Graff-inspired piece of jewellery that showcases the diamond’s inherent beauty and brilliance. This project challenges the students to push the boundaries of their creativity and provides them with a unique opportunity to design a piece with a Graff diamond in mind.   

Each student will hand draw and render their design, then create it digitally utilising computer-aided design (CAD) software. Once they have finalised their jewellery design, they will submit their creation to Graff, who will 3D print the designs ahead of the student exhibition. Meanwhile, using the state-of-the-art facilities at BAJ, the students will begin to create the collet in which the 18.38 carat pear shape diamond will sit.  

Hollie Paxton, Year One BA (Hons) Jewellery Design & Production Lead, said, “This project is an opportunity for our students to gain a valuable insight into the high-end jewellery industry. In the workshop, lecturer and master stone setter Nicholas Yiannarakis will teach the students how to create stone settings. Creating a piece that seamlessly fits into Graff’s collection will be a design and technical challenge, but I’m looking forward to seeing how the students respond and how their skills progress. We have given them quite a challenge in the first year of their course.”  

The designs submitted by the students will be evaluated by Mr Raymond Graff, Director and Sam Sherry Workshop General Manager, from Graff. The winning student will be awarded a prestigious two-week internship at Graff, providing an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in one of the world’s most distinguished high jewellery houses.  

This collaboration signifies a powerful fusion of education and industry, creating a platform for students to showcase their talents on a global stage. BAJ and Graff are excited to witness the innovative designs that emerge from this project and to support the growth and development of the next generation of jewellery designers.  

To see examples of our students’ past work, click here.

For more information about Graff, please visit graff.com.