Brian Gavin
The Cutter

Amsterdam to South Africa

Brian Gavin's family has been cutting diamonds since the 1880s. The great-grandfather of Brian's mother belonged to the Deutz family — established merchant bankers who recognized an extraordinary opportunity as diamonds were discovered in Kimberley, South Africa. They established themselves in the burgeoning diamond trade, learning rough diamond evaluation and the emerging art of diamond cutting in Amsterdam's renowned workshops.

Brian's grandfather was a master diamond cutter in Amsterdam before leaving for South Africa ahead of World War II. Seventy members of the family who remained were lost in the Holocaust. That history — the weight of what was carried and what was lost — is inseparable from the work.

The Family Factory

Brian grew up in the family's diamond polishing factory in South Africa, handling rough diamonds before most children handle marbles. His father Ben Gavin was a master cutter. His maternal grandfather Barend Deutz before him — both respected figures in the South African diamond trade. By the time Brian came of age, four generations of cutting knowledge had been passed down like closely guarded family secrets — the instincts, the judgment, the understanding of how light behaves inside crystallized carbon.

The marriage of Barend Deutz's daughter to Benjamin Gavin united two families with shared values and vision. Through the early 20th century, the family expanded operations, developing relationships with mining companies and international dealers. They became known for their willingness to invest in the finest rough material and their patience in cutting diamonds to maximize beauty rather than simply maximize weight — a philosophy Brian would later carry to its ultimate expression.

The Complete Diamond Education

From childhood, Brian was immersed in the world of diamonds, learning rough evaluation, the physics of light performance, and the subtle art of color grading from his father and grandfather. By his teenage years, he was spending hours with gemological equipment, studying how light interacts with diamond facets and developing the intuitive understanding that separates masters from technicians.

His formal apprenticeship took place at Goldstein Diamond Cutting Works in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he trained for two years under master cutters including Allen Goldstein and Bobby van Creveld. There, Brian worked through every segment of the cutting factory — marking, planning, design, sawing, bruiting, blocking, and brillianteering. These processes were all critical for mastering the art of marking, planning, and design — the decisions that determine whether a rough diamond becomes an exceptional gem or merely an adequate one.

A New Standard

In 1997, Brian designed a new standard of precision cutting that would become known worldwide. Dissatisfied with the Hearts and Arrows diamonds available at the time, he developed a specific combination of crown and pavilion angles that produced the most optically balanced diamonds the industry had seen. He branded these "A Cut Above" and in 1999 became one of the first to sell precision-cut diamonds exclusively online.

Industry Authority

He created one of the first online diamond ventures in 1999, and is the only diamantaire to create multiple online branded diamonds. He served as an acting supervisor to a major diamond grading laboratory, consulted for diamond factories worldwide, and in 2004 presented his paper on Hearts and Arrows formation and grading standards at the First International Diamond Cut Conference in Moscow — a paper that became the internationally adopted standard used by credentialed appraisers and the upper echelon of the cutting industry.

In 2009, he launched Brian Gavin Diamonds with his Signature Hearts and Arrows line, raising the standard he had already set.

The Influences

Beyond his family training and Goldstein apprenticeship, Brian's cutting philosophy was shaped by the work of South African master cutter Basil Watermeyer, whose 1970 Barion Cut proved that mixed-cut faceting could solve light leakage in non-round shapes. Watermeyer's landmark book Diamond Cutting: A Complete Guide to Diamond Processing (ISBN 0620132485) remains, in Brian's view, essential reading for anyone serious about the craft. The principles Watermeyer pioneered directly influenced Brian's own patented innovations in emerald and cushion cut light performance.

Optical Balance

Most diamond cutters face the same decision with every stone: maximize weight or maximize beauty. The industry rewards weight. Brian has always chosen beauty. His cutting philosophy — what he calls "Optical Balance" — prioritizes how a diamond handles light over how many carats it retains. It is a more costly approach and a less common one. It is also the reason his diamonds look the way they do.

The Transition to Rare

After decades of cutting tens of thousands of diamonds and establishing industry-leading quality standards, Brian experienced a fundamental shift in perspective. The diamonds that captivated him most deeply weren't simply the best-cut stones — they were the truly rare ones. The fancy color diamonds that appear once in thousands of evaluations. The Type IIa white diamonds of extraordinary purity. The stones with provenance connecting them to legendary mines or historic collections.

This realization led to the creation of RARE.DIAMONDS — a complete departure from conventional diamond selling and a return to the curated, relationship-based model of diamond dealing that characterized earlier generations of the family business. A practice focused exclusively on rare fancy color diamonds, investment-grade Type II stones, and the discerning collectors who seek them.

Houston, Texas

Today, Brian operates from Houston, Texas — an unlikely center for the world's finest diamonds, and precisely where he has built his reputation over more than three decades. Known in the trade as "Brian the Cutter," he brings the same precision, integrity, and generational knowledge to every acquisition — applying five generations of expertise to the world's rarest natural fancy color diamonds and Type II stones.

The same uncompromising standards. The same refusal to prioritize commerce over craft. The same conviction that extraordinary diamonds deserve extraordinary care in how they are selected, evaluated, and presented to collectors.

Our Standards & Services

• Why RARE.DIAMONDS — Our philosophy, standards, and what sets us apart
• VIP Advisor Services — Investment strategy, custom sourcing, portfolio management
• Authentication & Appraisal — Verification, valuation, and scientific testing
• Press & Recognition — Industry coverage, speaking, and endorsements

Education

• Understanding Rare Diamonds — Complete education hub
• The Gavin Effect® Round Brilliant · Patented Emerald Cut · Patented Cushion H&A
• Blue · Pink · Yellow · Colorless Diamond Guides

All consultations are complimentary and without obligation.