Brian Gavin

Brian Gavin (born 14 November 1957) is a fifth-generation diamond cutter from South Africa. Referred to as “Brian the Cutter,” Gavin is best known for establishing a quality benchmark and grading system for hearts and arrows diamonds, a specialized precision-cut form of the round brilliant diamond.

Hearts and Arrows Grading System

Renowned for strictness, Gavin’s system for the grading of hearts and arrows diamonds was first presented at the 2004 International Diamond Cut Conference (IDCC) in Moscow Russia. Available free of charge, his system is in-use by credentialed diamond appraisers and consumer-protection laboratories.

A Cut Above

After completing his family apprenticeship and formal education at the University of the Witwatersrand and in London at CLC, Gavin came to the US in the 1980s and began producing precision-cut diamonds. In 1997 his signature line, ‘A Cut Above,’ became the first hearts and arrows brand to be sold exclusively on the internet.

Dreams of Africa

Turbulence and conflict in Africa caused Gavin to bring his family to the US. While cutting and selling only conflict-free diamonds, Gavin always maintained “conflict-free is not enough” and looked for ways to help without politics or red tape in the way. In 2006 Gavin and Whiteflash co-founder Debi Wexler launched an initiative called Dreams of Africa. In partnership with Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams’ WCCCI charity, 100 percent of all profits from Gavin’s designer line of conflict-free Dreams of Africa jewelry go to fund relief for children who are victims of conflict.

Family History

Brian is the son of Ben Gavin (b Nov 22, 1929), master diamond cutter, and Femma Gavin, well known South African artist featured in the Smithsonian Libraries’ Collection (1935-2006). He is the grandson of Esther Alida (Stella) Aronson (1915-1980) and Barend Deutz (1911-1987) master diamond cutter from the well known Deutz family in Amsterdam. In the late 1930s Deutz was brought to South Africa to teach diamond cutting along with his brother-in-law, Solly Neuwit, at Majestic Diamond Cutting Works in Johannesburg. By the early 1950s Majestic was made a DeBeers sightholder and continued to flourish into the 1980s.

References

* [http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/45/1/Visible-Effects-of-Painting--Digging-on-Superideal-Diamonds.aspx Visible Effects of Painting & Digging on Superideal Diamonds] Pricescope Diamond Journal, Dec 9, 2006
* [http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=15696 Diamond Pendant Marks Dream of Total Peace] Rapaport News, Sep 26, 2006
* [http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds_info/t/news.aspx?articleid=372&zoneid=4 Whiteflash Dreams of Africa to Honor New Charity Partner] Whiteflash Trade News, Sep 16 2006
* [http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds_info/t/all_about.aspx?articleid=332&zoneid=28 Hearts and Arrows Diamond Formation] from 2004 International Diamond Cut Conference (IDCC)
* [http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds_info/t/all_about.aspx?articleid=333&zoneid=28 Hearts and Arrows Diamond Grading] from 2004 International Diamond Cut Conference (IDCC)
* [http://www.pricescope.com/hearts_indx.asp Hearts and Arrows Diamond Information at Pricescope.com]

External links

* [http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Art-Design/artandartistfiles/vf_details.cfm?id=1370 Smithsonian Libraries’ Collections: Femma Gavin]
* [http://www.dreamsofafrica.org Dreams of Africa]
* [http://www.cutstudy.com/conference/index.htm International Diamond Cut Conference Overview]