Gabi Tolkowsky
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Gabriel S. "Gabi" Tolkowsky is one of the world's most renowned diamond cutters, the sixth generation of the Tolkowsky family to make his name in the trade.[1][2] He is the great nephew of Marcel Tolkowsky, the father of the modern round brilliant diamond cut.
He was trained by Marcel and his father Jean, beginning in 1956,[1] before becoming Managing Director and Chairman of Diatrada, N.V., a division of De Beers in the 1970s.[3] He invented the "flower cuts" in 1985–86,[4] and since 1995, he has been a worldwide consultant to the De Beers group. In 1988, he was commissioned by them to act as master cutter for the 273.85 carat (54.770 g) Centenary Diamond, the largest and most flawless modern cut diamond in the world, a task which took three years.[1][5] The gem was kerfed (hand-cut) in order to avoid heat- or vibration-related damage from saws or lasers.[6]
He was a major interviewee in The Play of Light, a 2000 documentary film about the creation of a diamond from a rough stone,[7] and in 2003 he was knighted by the Belgian government with the title of Chevalier de L'Ordre du Roi Leopold II, for his services to the diamond industry.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Tolkowsky.com, official site
- ^ "Exelco Group becomes DTC sightholder", Jewelry News Asia, July 18, 2005
- ^ Gabrielle Diamonds
- ^ "Legendary Master Diamond Cutter Gabi Tolkowsky Addresses GIA Students", Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Newsroom, June 18, 2003
- ^ "A Letter from Gabi Tolkowsky, Master Diamond Cutter", Famous, Historic and Notable Diamonds, Tripod.com
- ^ "The Centenary", adiamondisforever.com
- ^ "The Play of Light", documentary film about the process of producing a diamond, including contributions by Tolkowsky
- ^ "Gabi Tolkowsky knighted", Rob Bates, Jewelers Circular Keystone, February, 2003
[edit] External links
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