Internationally recognized diamond expert Laurie Wickwire, GIA is an American living in London, where she has worked in the diamond industry for the past 35 years across all sectors:  Mining, Sorting, Brokering and Designing.   Laurie’s diamonds & designs worn by British Royals, can also be seen gracing international magazine covers and appearing in international blockbuster movies.

Laurie is the On Air Diamond Expert & Tahitian Pearl Specialist for the international television shopping channel QVC.  Since 2007 her opinion has been regularly sought by over a million television viewers each week.  Alongside national television presentations with the BBC and ITV delivering Diamond Master Classes and hosting the Diamond Jubilee Jewellery Television Special, Laurie is also a regular guest on both national radio and international podcasts.    

A certified diamond grader with the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and certified pearl grader with the IGI (International Gemological Institute) Laurie is also a graduate of the DeBeers Institute of Diamonds.

Laurie was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017 to create the historical jewellery range inspired by Her Majesty’s 41 private tiaras-  this jewellery range retailing at both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and is the top selling range on the Royal Collection Website since 2018.

Writing on behalf of the diamond industry, Laurie has published numerous articles in both magazines and journals, with topics ranging from Ocean Mining for Diamonds to The History of the British Coronation Robes, from Ice Mining for Diamonds to the Jewels of the Cannes Film Festival.

As an Accredited Arts Society lecturer, Laurie draws from 'hands on experience' working within the diamond world to present historical and educational talks, each lecture supported with fabulous & riveting PowerPoint presentations.  

Whether inside the jewellery vaults at the Cannes Film Festival loaning million-dollar jewels for celebrities to wear whilst sauntering the Red Carpet, to Royal Commissions designing items for HRH The Prince of Wales (2006) and the Duchess of Cambridge (2017), Laurie reveals the secrets of diamond cartels, she shares the experience of a pearl diver seeking the world’s oldest gemstone- the natural pearl and she showcases the history behind the key gems in Britain’s Royal Regalia.

Laurie’s talks will transport you back in time when gems were the true currency of royalty.