Our story
Five Generations, One Unwavering Commitment to Excellence
For more than 150 years, the Gavin family name has been synonymous with exceptional diamonds, uncompromising integrity, and innovative mastery of the diamond cutter's art. RARE.DIAMONDS represents the culmination of this extraordinary legacy—a collection of the world's most exceptional colored and white diamonds, personally curated by fifth-generation diamantaire Brian Gavin.
Table of Contents
The Gavin Legacy: 1880s to Today
The Beginning: The Cutting Factories of Amsterdam (1880s–1890s)
The Gavin family's diamond journey began in the 1880s amid the excitement of South Africa's diamond rush. The great-grandfather of Brian's mother belonged to the Deutz family, who were established merchant bankers. As diamonds were discovered in Kimberley, the family recognized an extraordinary opportunity and established themselves in the burgeoning diamond trade, learning the intricacies of rough diamond evaluation and the emerging art of diamond cutting in Amsterdam's renowned workshops.
These formative decades instilled values that would define first the Deutz name, then the Gavin name, for generations to come: meticulous attention to quality, unwavering ethical standards, and deep respect for the extraordinary rarity of exceptional diamonds.
Expansion and Innovation (1900s–1950s)
Through the early 20th century, succeeding generations of the Deutz family expanded the business, establishing diamond cutting facilities and developing relationships with mining companies and international diamond dealers. The family 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.
Following the Second World War, the marriage of Barend Deutz's daughter to Benjamin Gavin united two families with shared values and vision. During this era, the Gavins earned a reputation for technical precision and an almost obsessive pursuit of perfection—characteristics that would later define Brian Gavin's revolutionary contributions to diamond cutting science.
Modern Precision: The Hearts & Arrows Era (1970s–1990s)
The latter decades of the 20th century saw the Gavin family at the forefront of precision diamond cutting technology. They were early adopters of computer-aided design and modern optical analysis, understanding that technology could unlock new levels of light performance in diamonds.
This commitment to merging traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology set the stage for Brian Gavin's groundbreaking work in the 21st century—work that would redefine what a perfectly cut diamond could achieve.
Brian Gavin: Fifth-Generation Innovation
Brian Gavin represents the culmination of 150 years of accumulated diamond knowledge, combining ancestral wisdom with modern innovation and scientific rigor.
Early Training and Mastery
From childhood, Brian was immersed in the world of diamonds, learning rough diamond 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 an intuitive understanding of what makes exceptional diamonds truly exceptional.
Revolutionary Contributions to Diamond Cutting
In the early 2000s, Brian pioneered what would become known as the "Brian Gavin Signature" series of Hearts & Arrows diamonds—round brilliant diamonds cut to unprecedented precision standards. His innovations included:
Proprietary Cutting Specifications – Development of exacting angular tolerances that maximized light return and created perfect optical symmetry.
Advanced Quality Control – Implementation of multi-stage verification systems ensuring every facet met exact specifications.
Patented Cutting Techniques – New approaches to cutting fancy shapes (cushions, ovals, pears) that brought Hearts & Arrows precision to shapes beyond round brilliants.
Scientific Documentation – Pioneering use of advanced imaging technology to document and verify diamond light performance.
These contributions earned Brian recognition as one of the world's foremost diamond cutters and positioned him as an authority on diamond quality and light performance.
Transition to Rare Diamonds
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.
The RARE.DIAMONDS Philosophy
Rarity Over Volume
In an industry often driven by volume and inventory turnover, RARE.DIAMONDS operates on a fundamentally different principle: we acquire fewer than 1% of the diamonds we evaluate.
This extreme selectivity means our collection consists exclusively of diamonds that meet the most demanding standards:
- Fancy color diamonds in Fancy Intense or Fancy Vivid grades
- Type IIa or Type IIb diamonds when available
- Stones with Argyle pedigree where applicable
- Exceptional cutting and light performance
- Documented provenance and authentication
- Investment-grade quality with strong appreciation potential
Relationships Over Transactions
RARE.DIAMONDS is not a retail store. There are no glass cases filled with inventory, no sales pressure, no commissioned salespeople. Instead, we operate through private consultations, building relationships with collectors and investors who appreciate the extraordinary rarity of the diamonds we offer.
Many client relationships span years or decades, with ongoing advisory services, market insights, and continued access to exceptional stones as they become available.
Education Over Selling
Every consultation at RARE.DIAMONDS is educational first and transactional second. We believe informed collectors make better decisions, build more significant collections, and develop deeper appreciation for the diamonds they acquire.
Whether you're purchasing your first rare diamond or expanding an established collection, our goal is to share knowledge accumulated over five generations—helping you understand not just what makes a diamond beautiful, but what makes it truly rare and why certain diamonds appreciate more significantly than others.
Transparency Over Opacity
The diamond industry has historically been opaque in pricing and sourcing. RARE.DIAMONDS operates differently.
We share market intelligence openly, referencing recent auction results and dealer networks. We explain exactly why specific diamonds command certain prices. We share our acquisition sources and methodology. We provide comprehensive documentation including scientific testing, provenance research, and market analysis.
This transparency reflects confidence in the exceptional quality of our diamonds and respect for our clients' sophistication and intelligence.
Our Selection Process
Global Sourcing Network
Brian Gavin's five generations of family connections, combined with decades of personal relationships throughout the diamond industry, provide unparalleled access to exceptional stones:
Mining Company Relationships – Direct connections to select mining operations worldwide.
Cutting Factory Access – First look at exceptional rough before cutting and finished stones immediately after cutting.
Auction House Previews – Priority access to view and evaluate significant stones before public auctions.
Private Collections – Trusted advisor status with collectors considering selling exceptional pieces.
Estate Acquisitions – Opportunities to acquire historic diamonds from established collections.
This network provides access to extraordinary diamonds months or even years before they reach the public market—often allowing our clients to acquire stones that never appear on the public market at all.
The Evaluation Process
When evaluating potential acquisitions, every diamond undergoes rigorous assessment:
1. Initial Screening – Review of certification, color grade, and basic characteristics (99% are declined at this stage).
2. Hands-On Examination – Personal evaluation by Brian Gavin under controlled lighting conditions.
3. Scientific Testing – Type verification, advanced gemological analysis, and authenticity confirmation.
4. Cut Quality Assessment – Detailed analysis of proportions, symmetry, and light performance.
5. Market Analysis – Research into comparable sales, auction results, and current market positioning.
6. Provenance Research – Investigation of history, previous ownership, and any notable characteristics.
7. Investment Potential – Assessment of long-term appreciation probability based on rarity factors.
Only after this comprehensive evaluation do we acquire a diamond for the RARE.DIAMONDS collection.
Our Commitment to Clients
Lifetime Partnership
When you acquire a diamond through RARE.DIAMONDS, it's the beginning of a relationship, not the conclusion of a transaction. We remain available for:
- Questions about care and maintenance
- Insurance appraisal updates as values appreciate
- Market intelligence and collection strategy
- Future acquisitions and collection building
- Resale support when life circumstances change
Some of our closest client relationships span decades, with multiple generations of families working with successive generations of the Gavin family.
Integrity Above All
The Gavin family name has survived 150 years because of unwavering commitment to ethical business practices. This means:
- Every diamond is exactly as represented
- All pricing is fair market value
- All documentation is accurate and verifiable
- All advice is in your best interest, not ours
- All commitments are honored without exception
Your trust is more valuable than any single transaction, and we protect that trust with absolute integrity.
Scientific Excellence
We invest significantly in gemological equipment, scientific testing, and ongoing education to ensure every diamond is properly evaluated and documented. This includes:
- Advanced spectroscopy for Type verification
- High-resolution imaging systems
- Controlled lighting environments
- Ongoing education on latest research and testing methods
- Relationships with leading gemological laboratories
This scientific rigor ensures you receive accurate information and proper documentation for insurance, investment tracking, and eventual resale.
Looking Forward
As we move deeper into the 21st century, the world of rare diamonds continues to evolve. The permanent closure of the Argyle mine has fundamentally altered pink diamond markets. Growing global wealth creates increasing demand for the world's rarest gems. Technological advances in synthetic diamonds make authentication and scientific verification more critical than ever.
Through all these changes, RARE.DIAMONDS remains committed to the principles that have guided five generations of the Gavin family: unwavering quality standards, deep expertise, trusted relationships, and genuine passion for the world's most exceptional diamonds.
We invite you to experience this legacy firsthand through a private consultation with Brian Gavin.
Begin Your Journey
Whether you're considering your first rare diamond acquisition or building a significant collection, we welcome the opportunity to share our knowledge and provide access to truly exceptional stones.
Schedule a Private Consultation →
Recognition & Credentials
Brian Gavin's Industry Recognition
- Featured expert in trade publications including Rapaport, National Jeweler, and JCK
- Sought-after speaker on diamond cutting and light performance
- Patent holder for innovative diamond cutting techniques
- Certified by leading gemological organizations
- Advisor to collectors, family offices, and institutional investors
Professional Affiliations
- Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
- American Gem Society (AGS)
- [Additional industry associations]
- [Additional trade groups]
"The diamonds in our collection represent the pinnacle of what nature has created over billions of years. My role is simply to recognize them, properly present them, and connect them with people who will treasure them as they deserve."
— Brian Gavin
Contact Us
Phone: [Your phone number]
Email: [Your email]
Showroom: By appointment – Houston, Texas
