Harry Winston's Prestigious Diamond Asset
Harry Winston: The Master of Iconic Diamonds
Harry Winston, a visionary in the world of larger-than-life diamonds and red carpet fine jewellery, founded his eponymous business in New York in 1932. Swiftly becoming the go-to source for Hollywood screen legends and royal dignitaries, Winston's reputation for acquiring rare, historically significant, and exceptionally cut stones has left an indelible mark on the jewelry world.
In the 1920s, Winston discovered an alternative source for purchasing more affordable gemstones - estate jewellery auctions. This shrewd move allowed him to acquire some of the most extraordinary diamonds, such as the McLean diamond, a 31.26 carat diamond, which he purchased from Evalyn Walsh McLean's estate in 1949. The McLean diamond was later purchased by the Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson in 1950.
One of the most famous diamonds Harry Winston owned is the Hope Diamond, which he procured in arguably one of the most significant estate jewellery sales in history. The Hope Diamond, a 45.52-carat blue diamond known for its rich history spanning centuries, was famously toured across the United States by Winston before it was donated to the Smithsonian Institution.
Winston could get his hands on exceptional stones, remove them from their outdated settings, and re-cut them into more contemporary styles that enhanced their natural beauty and brilliance. An example of this mastery is the Idol's Eye, a 70.20-carat flawless oval-cut diamond, which Winston purchased in 1946.
In 1969, Harry Winston acquired the 601 carat rough Lesotho diamond. The Lesotho diamond was cut into 18 unique stones, with the largest being a 71.73 carat emerald-cut. One of these stones, the Lesotho III, a 40.42 carat marquise shape, was purchased by Aristotle Onassis as an engagement ring for Jacqueline Kennedy.
Winston's second important diamond purchase in 1938 was the Vargas diamond, a 726.60 carat rough. The Vargas diamond resulted in 29 individual diamonds after being successfully split.
The Portuguese diamond, a 127.01 carat emerald-cut diamond, was purchased by Winston in 1951. The Smithsonian Institution acquired the Portuguese diamond from Winston in 1963.
Harry Winston also purchased two pear-shaped Golconda diamonds, known as the Indore Pears, from the former Maharaja of Indore in 1946. These diamonds were slightly recut to 44.14 and 46.39 carats and incorporated into a baguette-cut diamond necklace that Winston exhibited in his Court of Jewels traveling collection.
Another significant diamond in Winston's collection is the Ashoka Diamond, a 41.37-carat D-flawless diamond, which he acquired from India in 1947. The diamond was named after the famed Indian emperor and was sold to Mexican actress María Félix; it was auctioned in 1988 and hasn’t been publicly seen since then.
Perhaps one of the most remarkable diamonds Winston handled is the Williamson Pink Star, an 11.15-carat fancy vivid pink, Internally Flawless, Type IIa diamond. Although Winston originally owned the diamond, it was later sold to Laurence Graff.
Throughout his career, it is estimated that Harry Winston owned more than one-third of the world's most famous diamonds, cementing his place as a legendary figure in the jewelry world.
- Harry Winston's iconic diamonds have been cherished by celebrities and royalty, making them staples in the glamorous realm of fashion-and-beauty and pop-culture.
- Some of the most extraordinary diamonds, such as the McLean diamond, were procured by Harry Winston from estate jewellery auctions, offering him an affordable source of rare stones in the 1920s.
- Harry Winston's masterful re-cutting of diamonds transformed even historically significant stones into striking treasures, enhancing their natural beauty and brilliance, extending their legacy for future generations.
- With the purchase of one-third of the world's most famous diamonds, including the Hope Diamond and the Ashoka Diamond, Harry Winston established himself as a trailblazer in the field of gemmology, leaving an indelible mark on the lifestyle, entertainment, and diploma of the diamond industry.
