Harry Winston (March 1, 1896 – December 8, 1978) was an American jeweler. He donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958 after owning it for a decade. He also traded the Portuguese Diamond to the Smithsonian in 1963 in exchange for 3,800 carats of small diamonds. Winston founded the Harry Winston Inc. in New York City in 1932. He had been called by many the "King of Diamonds".

History

Winston's father Jacob started a small jewelry business. He and Winston's mother were Jewish immigrants to the United States from the Russian Empire. While growing up, Harry worked in his father's shop. When he was twelve years old, he recognized a two-carat emerald in a pawn shop, bought it for 25 cents, and sold it two days later for $800. Winston started his business in 1920 and opened his first store in New York City in 1932. Winston's jewelry empire began in 1926, with his acquisition of Arabella Huntington's jewelry collection, for $1.2 million. The wife of railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington, Arabella amassed one of the world's most prestigious collections of jewelry, largely from Parisian jewelers such as Cartier. When Winston bought the collection after her death, the designs of the jewelry in the collection were quite old fashioned. Winston redesigned the jewelry into more contemporary styles and showcased his unique skill at jewelry crafting. When he died, Winston left the company to his two sons, Ronald and Bruce, who then entered into a decade-long battle over the control of the company. In 2000, Ronald along with new business partner, Fenway Partners, bought Bruce out from the company for $54.1 million. On March 26, 2013, Harry Winston, Inc. was bought by the Swatch Group of Switzerland.

Legacy

Winston was among the most noted jewelers in the world, well known to the general public. In the 1953 musical film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" includes the spoken interjection "Talk to me, Harry Winston, tell me all about it!" The Lauren Weisberger comic novel Chasing Harry Winston was published in May 2008. Winston's influence extended significantly into Hollywood and the world of celebrity. In 1944, he pioneered the practice of lending jewelry to actresses for the Academy Awards and other events, beginning with Jennifer Jones. This tradition continued with numerous Hollywood stars wearing Harry Winston jewels at high-profile events, including Katharine Hepburn, who wore the 15th century Inquisition Necklace in 1947. Winston's creations appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's "Notorious" (1946) and other notable films such as "The Graduate", "Everyone Says I Love You". In 2015, Harry Winston, Inc. operated 39 salons and numerous retail affiliates in locations such as New York, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Dallas, Honolulu, Bal Harbour, Chicago, Costa Mesa, and other countries around the world.

Noted diamonds Winston owned

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