Jean Paul Tolkowsky inspecting a diamond.
Rings (above and below) from the Tolkowsky collection featuring the firm's Ideal Cut diamond.
Exelco founders' deep experience guiding firm to further expansion
Exelco NV, a diamond manufacturer and retailer, was founded in 1993 by Jean Paul Tolkowsky and Lior Kunstler, who are seventh and third generation diamantaires, respectively.
October 28, 2009
Exelco NV, a diamond manufacturer and retailer, was founded in 1993 by Jean Paul Tolkowsky and Lior Kunstler, who are seventh and third generation diamantaires, respectively.
The company has sights in London and Botswana, and is best known for being a manufacturerand distributor of Triple Excellent Ideal Cut Hearts & Arrows diamonds and a pioneer of Signature cut diamonds.
Based in Antwerp, Exelco NV operates two modern diamond cutting facilities: H&A Cutting Works Thailand, & H&A Cutting Works Botswana, with approximately 1,000 staff employed in eight locations worldwide.
Jean Paul Tolkowsky is the latest in the line of Tolkowsky dynasty, famous for inventing the Ideal Cut Diamond, and also his involvement with Centenary and Golden Jubilee Diamonds. He is the son of Gabi Tolkowsky, widely acknowledged as one of the great master craftsmen of the 20th century.
At the request of De Beers, and to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 1988, Gabi and his son Jean Paul Tolkowsky spent three years transforming a 599-carat rough diamond into the largest and most flawless diamond in the world – a 273.85-carat gem with 247 facets.
The Tolkowsky partnership also designed, cut and polished the Golden Jubilee diamond – a yellow-brown cushion-cut weighing 545.65 carats with 148 facets - gifted to the King of Thailand to mark his 50 years on the throne.
