“There is no better way to represent the stars at night. There is no better way to match the darker colors of sapphires or black onyx. I cannot imagine that we create jewelry without diamonds,” says Van Cleef & Arpels President Nicolas Bos. There are a few companies bold enough to create a single collection of jewelry cut from one 910-carat stone. The Van Cleef & Arpels collection produced from the Lesotho Legend is a stunning testimony to both daring and unique craftsmanship.
Ahead, discover the fascinating backstory of this remarkable natural diamond—and the breathtaking collection it inspired.
The Lesotho Legend diamond, a singular D-color Type IIa rough diamond, represents the highest quality characteristics possible in a natural diamond. The stone weighs 910 carats and ranks among the largest gem-quality diamonds ever discovered, making the Lesotho Legend one of the most important diamond finds of the modern era.
The Lesotho Legend was purchased by Van Cleef & Arpels in 2018, and the Maison partnered with Taché, its long-time diamond dealer, and Diamcad, a leading Antwerp-based diamond cutter, to map out an ambitious cutting plan. The result was 67 diamonds cut from the single Lesotho Legend rough, each crafted to the Maison’s exacting standards while honoring the traditions of Van Cleef & Arpels design.
More here https://www.naturaldiamonds.com/historic-diamonds/lesotho-legend/#
