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Billionaire jeweler: Trump’s claim that he got a million-dollar discount on engagement ring is false

by Morgan Gstalter - 02/08/18 4:43 PM ET

A billionaire jewelry exec says President Trump’s claim that Graff Diamonds gave him a $1 million discount on his wife’s engagement ring is false.

Days before his lavish 2005 wedding to Melania Knauss, Trump told The New York Times that Graff had given him the 15-carat emerald cut D-flawless diamond engagement ring for a huge discount.

“Only a fool would say, ‘No thank you, I want to pay a million dollars more for a diamond,’” Trump told The Times.

But late last month, Laurence Graff, the chairman of Graff Diamonds, told Forbes in an email that Trump was “a pleasure to do business with” but that he was given “no favors” when he bought the ring. {mosads}

“We don’t sell items for publicity value,” Graff Chief Financial Officer Nicholas Paine said. Both officials declined to specify the price of the ring, but the Times reported it retailed for $1.5 million.

“He paid for [the ring] in full, and he paid immediately,” Forbes reported.

The London-based jewelry company saw increased traffic at their New York, Chicago and Palm Beach stores after the Trump wedding. Trump also plugged the company on his reality show “The Apprentice,” the Times reported.

A frequent customer, Trump reportedly went back to Graff to buy a second 25-carat diamond ring for Melania Trump to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, Forbes reported.

Melania Trump is seen wearing that $3 million ring in her official White House portrait.

Tags Donald Trump Donald Trump engagement Mar-a-Lago Melania Trump Palm Beach wedding