This exceptional and luxurious jewel marks what would be the 125th birthday of the so-called King of Diamonds. Winston, born in 1908, was an American jeweler that sadly passed away in 1978. The son of a small jewelry shop owner, Harry Winston was introduced to the world of rare gems and jewels at a young age.
With a discerning eye and passion for gemstones, Harry Winston was named the “King of Diamonds” due to his impeccable ability to recognize the qualities of rough stones and the art of transforming them into exquisite pieces.
In order to celebrate Winston’s 125th birthday, his jewelry house presents a unique ring named Winston Pink Legacy, featuring an 18.96-carats pink diamond.
“One of my main goals since taking over as CEO of Harry Winston has been to maintain the brand’s beloved traditions, and as the ‘King of Diamonds,’ acquiring important stones is certainly one of them.” – Hayek
His reputation as a diamond maverick was settled in the early days of his career, as he acquired some of history’s greatest and most impressive diamonds. Such as the famous Hope Diamond – a rare deep-blue stone that was originally brought from India – in 1949, that the jeweler generously donated to the Smithsonian Institution.
As Winston navigated through prominent estate jewelry collections, he was able to re-cut and set gemstones into more contemporary styles, giving them modern, reimagined settings.
But more than a jewler, Harry Winston was also a collector. He owned a personal collection that was equivalent to those of royal houses.
Throughout the course of his career, it’s estimated that Harry Winston owned more than one-third of the world’s most valuable diamonds.
“It is a Cinderella world. It has everything. People, drama, romance, excitement, speculation. What more could you want?” – Winston
Harry Winston was known, as well, for his 1935 purchase of the Jonker Diamond, a white diamond tinged with blue that weighed an unbelievable 726 carats and was about the size of a chicken’s egg. After a tour around the United States, Winston had Lazare Kaplan cut the original stone into 13 finished gems.
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Under his master eye, Harry Winston recut the diamonds of Indore Pears, once owned by the Maharaja of Indore, to 44.14 and 46.39 carats and kept them in his personal luxurious collection. Later, they were exhibited around the country in “The Court of Jewels”, a traveling show hosted by himself with the purpose of educate the American public.
“I love the diamond business” – Winston
In order to continue Harry Winston’s magnificent legacy, his namesake jewelry house acquired the sensational 18.96-carat Fancy Vivid Pink diamond in November 2018. Due to its incredible size and rare color grading, it was described by in-house specialists as “virtually unheard of”. This year, the world’s leading source for diamonds is also launching a new campaign dedicated to the theme of love.
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