The Graff Hallucination made its debut at Baselworld in 2014 as the most costly quartz watch in the world, valued at approximately $55 million. This timepiece, which is barely visible and ironically difficult to read, remains the holder of this title even today, a decade after impressing and/or shocking the world at that event. Apparently, there is a scarcity of unconventional jewelry makers who also possess shares in diamond mining companies and wish to flaunt their wealth among their peers.
Whether the Graff Hallucination watch can be considered art is subjective and dependent on the perspective of the observer. However, Laurence Graff, the founder and CEO of Graff Diamonds, envisioned it as a means to showcase his creativity and as an invitation for fellow billionaires to invest their wealth in Graff Diamonds.
The Graff Hallucination is not only an audacious display of jewelry watchmaking, but its audacity primarily stems from the jewelry aspect rather than its functionality as a timepiece. It is excessively opulent to the point of being perverse, overwhelming, and scandalous. Depending on whom you ask, the Graff Hallucination may be deemed a repugnant creation that not even the fictional character Barbie would wear, despite her fame.
Graff Diamonds first introduced itself at Baselworld in 2014, although it had been crafting high-end jewelry watches since 2009. Since then, it has continued to produce one-of-a-kind pieces, including notable creations like the Diamond Secret, the Abstract Watch, and the successor to the Hallucination, the $40 million Graff Fascination, which was unveiled at Baselworld in 2015.
All of these pieces share a common purpose: to exhibit the craftsmanship and, ultimately, the superiority of the artisans at Graff Diamonds. They are not designed as collectibles, but rather as demonstrations of the brand’s excellence. The inclusion of a minuscule quartz watch is merely an additional element in this industry-wide display of prestige.
Graff also refers to these creations as a love letter, as there is a limit to how much one can boast about oneself. During the presentation, he stated, “For many years, I have contemplated creating an extraordinary watch that exemplifies our unwavering passion for diamonds. The Hallucination has transformed my dream into reality.”
The Hallucination is a mesmerizing spectacle composed of a kaleidoscope of diamonds, totaling 110 carats in weight. Half of this weight is attributed to stones ranging from 2 to 3 carats, making the search for such stones a two-year endeavor. Colored diamonds, being more rare and consequently more expensive, contribute to the allure of this remarkable timepiece.
A team of 30 experts from Graff, including designers, gemologists, and skilled craftsmen, dedicated an additional two and a half years to working on the project. The reason for the extended timeline was the intricate design created by Laurence, with the timepiece featuring various cuts for the stones (round, emerald, marquise, radiant, heart shape, and pear shape), all set on a platinum bracelet.
Image: Graff Diamonds
The arrangement of the stones lacks any apparent symmetry or logic, which is likely why it was given the name “Hallucination.” This became a source of amusement for watch enthusiasts online, who humorously compared it to unicorn puke transformed into a watch – a crude yet fitting analogy.
What bothered traditionalists the most about the Hallucination was not its shameless display of opulence or the extravagant use of resources, but rather the irony in labeling it a watch when its readability is severely compromised. Indeed, the small quartz timepiece in the center of the dazzling kaleidoscope could easily go unnoticed, partly due to the bezel and dial being adorned with pink diamonds.
Graff’s decision to incorporate a simple quartz mechanism onto a diamond bracelet was seen as a mere excuse to classify the Hallucination as a watch, allowing it to be showcased at Baselworld. Many saw it as a missed opportunity, as such a rare and exquisite collection of diamonds deserved a timepiece of equal grandeur.
However, this would have diverted attention away from the diamonds, and Graff was well aware of this fact.
“The Graff Hallucination is a sculptural masterpiece, a tribute to the marvel of colored diamonds,” he stated during the presentation. The focus was never on watchmaking but rather on the spectrum of diamonds. That is likely why details regarding the mechanism of the tiny timepiece were kept secret until the grand unveiling.
Image: Graff Diamonds
Despite the frenzy it caused in the media, the Graff Hallucination never found a buyer. It is possible that it was never intended to be sold, serving its purpose of showcasing the capabilities of the artisans at Graff Diamonds and the extraordinary diamonds they possess. It also helped that Graff, who still retains ownership, is the majority shareholder in the South African Diamond Corporation, leading to another humorous remark among watch enthusiasts: wearing this piece is akin to having your own diamond mine on your wrist.
As with all good jokes, there is some truth to it. The Graff Hallucination remains in the possession of diamond mine owner Laurence Graff to this day, unless he dismantled it without anyone’s knowledge.
According to the Source autoevolution.com