Since the creation of the brand, the designs of the American jewelry house Harry Winston have been synonymous with luxury and glamour among Hollywood stars, royal families, and heads of state – and rightly so. The jeweler and founder of the brand (to whom the company owes its name and spectacular success) led a rich and varied life, and at the same time had an eye for precious gemstones and innovative design.The Duchess of Windsor paid him a visit in New York, Jackie Onassis wore an engagement ring with a Winston diamond, and Richard Burton gave his wife Elizabeth Taylor a pear-shaped diamond bought from Winston. In 1947, the magazine ‘Cosmopolitan’ gave him a nickname that stayed with him throughout his career: the King of Diamonds. He was so famous in his time that even Marilyn Monroe sang his praises in ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’.
Born for diamonds
Born in 1896, Harry Winston worked in his father’s jewelry store in New York, showing remarkable talent for the craft from the very beginning. When he was only 12 years old, he noticed a green stone in a neighborhood pawnshop that cost only 25 cents; a few days later, he sold it for $800 – it turned out to be a two-carat emerald. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Los Angeles, and Winston dropped out of school at the age of 15 to join the family business.
In 1920, Winston returned to New York to open his first business, Premier Diamond Company, at the age of just 24. With a keen eye for gemstones, he began acquiring entire jewelry collections at estate sales. His first jewelry collection belonged to Arabella Huntington, the wife of railroad magnate Henry Huntington; she had a famous collection, mostly of Parisian Cartier jewels.Winston, who bought her collection for 1.2 million dollars, proved his craftsmanship and business skills by redesigning old-fashioned elements into modern styles that were in high demand among upper-class clients.
“Every diamond has a different nature. Each diamond should be treated as if it were a real person,” he used to say.
King of Diamonds
In 1932, he could afford to further expand his business. He opened Harry Winston Inc., selling modern jewelry set in exquisite platinum. He was known for employing classically trained artists as designers because Winston felt they truly understood how to bring fine jewelry to life. The company’s philosophy, ‘The diamond should dictate the design, and its natural brilliance should take the lead,’ remains the brand’s motto to this day.
Harry Winston owned many beautiful jewels, often traveling around the world to acquire those on which he had set his heart. In 1952, Life Magazine reported that he owned the second largest collection of historic jewels in the world. By comparison, the largest belonged to the British royal family.Although clever, he was infamous for ignoring sensible security measures: he could often be seen with a multi-million-dollar diamond in his pocket, and legend has it that in 1935 he sent the legendary Jonker Diamond (weighing 726 carats!!!) from London to New York via the U.S. Postal Service, for which he paid 64 cents, and in 1958 he sent the priceless 45.52-carat Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institute for $145.29.His philosophy was: “If you can’t trust the United States mail, who can you trust?”.
Although the philosophy seems crazy, the post office never lost any of his shipments..
Harry Wilson died in 1978, leaving the company to his two sons, Ronald and Bruce. In 2000, Ronald bought out Bruce for $54.1 million. In 2013, Harry Winston Inc. was sold to the Swatch Group of Switzerland, but Harry’s legacy lives on in the company, which still bears his name. His salons can still be found all over the world, from the famous flagship on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to London, Paris, Tokyo, and Shanghai.
Diamond Studio Designs 79 Diamonds
In our studio, we understand the love for diamonds like few others. Since the beginning of our existence, it has been precisely custom diamond jewelry, including rings and earrings, became our trademark, as did salescertified diamondsWe encourage you to take a look at our completed projects and contact the jewelry designer. Valentine’s Day is approaching slowly, it is the perfect time to give your loved one a piece of jewelry that will highlight their style and your feelings.