London Jewelers marks 100 years with a 20.26-carat D Flawless cut from Botswana

London Jewelers is marking its 100th anniversary with a new diamond and two new supplier relationships, teaming up with De Beers Group and Grandview Klein Diamonds. The centrepiece is a one-of-a-kind 20.26-carat D Flawless Old Mine Cushion cut, its final weight chosen to echo the family's 2026 centennial.

The stone began as a 63-carat natural rough diamond, unveiled with Grandview Klein Diamonds at JCK Las Vegas in May. It was cut in Botswana, its country of origin, as part of the Origin De Beers Group programme, which the company said brings ethical sourcing and complete traceability to the collaboration.

De Beers, founded in 1888, explores, mines and markets diamonds and has shaped the global market for over a century. The programme draws its stones from its operations across Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Canada, backed by investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure and environmental stewardship.

The Origin scheme traces a natural diamond from rough to polish with verified ownership, documenting every stage of the transformation. A digital experience uses blockchain technology so clients can follow the stone's journey from discovery in the earth to the finished cut.

"This is a natural fit," said Mark Udell, chief executive officer of London Jewelers. "De Beers Group has access to some of the world's most exceptional diamonds, and we've spent generations building trust with our clients by offering not only extraordinary diamonds, but a complete experience built on expertise, integrity and lasting relationships."

The family business was founded in 1926 with a single storefront in Glen Cove, New York. Four generations of the Udell family have since grown it into one of the leading family-owned independent jewellers in the U.S., with boutiques across Long Island and New Jersey.

Natural diamonds, fine and precious jewellery and timepieces are what the retailer trades on, alongside personalised services built to carry customers across generations. The centennial diamond, the company said, represents a continued commitment to natural diamonds, craftsmanship and the belief that every diamond has a meaningful journey.

The flawless D colour grading puts the stone at the top of the scale: perfectly colourless and internally flawless under 10x magnification. London Jewelers said the finished piece will be among the rarest natural diamonds in the world.

The Old Mine Cushion shape was chosen for its place among the earliest diamond cuts, developed in the 1700s and shaped by hand and instinct under candlelight before modern technology existed. Its softly rounded outline and romantic facets evoke the era of craftsmanship that first determined a diamond's brilliance.

Cutting a new diamond in an old style

Modern cutting techniques will shape the stone for precision and brilliance, with a focus on symmetry to showcase sparkle visible to the naked eye, in line with all Origin diamonds. "We are cutting a new diamond in an old style because we honour our past, but we are shaping the future," said Scott Udell, vice president of London Jewelers.

Members of the Udell family flew to Botswana to watch the cutting at first hand, learn the history of the stone's origins and see how the craftsmen turned the rough into a rare cut. The trip also included visits to local schools and communities.

Those visits form part of the family's broader philanthropic commitment, which London Jewelers said extends to supporting future generations within the natural diamond industry. Education and giving back are long-standing values for the family, the company said, giving the project a wider impact beyond its own anniversary.

"We've always believed the story behind a diamond is just as important as the diamond itself," said Candy Udell, president of London Jewelers. "With Origin, we're offering our clients something truly meaningful. Beautiful natural diamonds backed by transparency, responsibility and peace of mind."

Candy Udell added that diamonds have long been symbols of love, celebration and legacy, and that they can now also stand as symbols of ethical progress. The company said the piece opens a next chapter in which beauty is matched with ownership, transparency and purpose.

Mark Udell closed with a reflection on the century behind the business. "For 100 years, London Jewelers has been built on craftsmanship, resilience, family, and relationships that span generations. What began as a modest storefront in Glen Cove has grown into something far greater than a jewelry business."

The partnership extends our own coverage of De Beers, which we reported has reopened its New York flagship and posted double-digit growth. We have also covered the reported role its owner could play in a Richemont-backed consortium bid for the diamond group.

London Jewelers has not disclosed a retail value for the diamond or said when the finished stone will be unveiled. The company has published a video following the diamond's journey on its own site for clients who want to track the cut from rough to polish.

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Images: Courtesy of London Jewelers; London Jewelers