Harry Winston Explained

Harry Winston
Birth Date:1 March 1896
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Death Place:New York City, U.S.
Occupation:Jeweler
Years Active:1908–1978
Known For:Harry Winston, Inc.
Relatives:Stephanie Winston Wolkoff (granddaughter by adoption)

Harry Winston (March 1, 1896December 8, 1978)[1] was an American jeweler. He donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958 after owning it for a decade.[2] He also traded the Portuguese Diamond to the Smithsonian in 1963 in exchange for 3,800 carats of small diamonds.[3]

Winston founded the Harry Winston Inc. in New York City in 1932.[4] [5] He had been called by many the "King of Diamonds".[6] [7] [8] [9]

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.[10] 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.[11] Winston started his business in 1920 and opened his first store in New York City in 1932.[12]

Winston's jewelry empire began in 1926, with his acquisition of Arabella Huntington's jewelry collection, for $1.2 million.[13] 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.[14]

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.[15] In 2000, Ronald along with new business partner, Fenway Partners, bought Bruce out from the company for $54.1 million.[16]

On March 26, 2013, Harry Winston, Inc. was bought by the Swatch Group of Switzerland.[17]

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!"[18] The Lauren Weisberger comic novel Chasing Harry Winston was published in May 2008.[19]

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.[20]

Noted diamonds Winston owned

A–C

D–I

J–M

N–Z

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Associated Press. Gem merchant Harry Winston is dead at 82. Boston Globe. Boston, Mass.. December 9, 1978.
  2. Web site: The Hope Diamond. www.si.edu. Smithsonian Institution. December 2, 2015.
  3. Web site: Portuguese Diamond - Smithsonian Institution. geogallery.si.edu. 2020-03-31.
  4. Web site: Company Overview of Harry Winston, Inc.. www.bloomberg.com. 2019-03-24.
  5. Web site: Harry Winston - Swatch Group. www.swatchgroup.com. 2019-03-24.
  6. Web site: Three of a Kind: Larger-than-Life Diamonds. Sotheby's. November 16, 2018 . 2019-03-24.
  7. Web site: 5 minutes with... A Harry Winston wreath necklace Christie's. www.christies.com. en. 2019-03-24.
  8. News: Heritage, history and Mr Harry Winston. 2016-11-17. The Telegraph. 2019-03-24. en-GB. 0307-1235.
  9. Web site: Harry Winston Unveils Revamped Flagship in Beverly Hills. Meers. Carolyn. 2017-12-08. Robb Report. en. 2019-03-24.
  10. News: Observer. ROBERT SHERRILL; ROBERT SHERRILL is Washington correspondent for The Texas. 1982-05-16. Diamonds are for Suckers. en-US. Washington Post. 2021-03-15. 0190-8286.
  11. Web site: Diaz Dennis. Alicia. Fashion Influential #28: Harry Winston. www.zimbio.com. December 11, 2008. Zimbio. December 2, 2015.
  12. Web site: Harry Winston – History. www.hautehorlogerie.org. Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. December 2, 2015.
  13. Web site: Harry Winston Unveils New 'Belle' Engagement Ring. https://web.archive.org/web/20120708210634/http://www.forbes.com/pictures/egfe45eeik/arabella-huntington/. dead. July 8, 2012. Forbes. December 2, 2015.
  14. Web site: Harry Winston and the bridal Belle. www.thejewelleryeditor.com. The Jewellery Editor. June 26, 2012. December 2, 2015.
  15. Web site: Burleigh. Nina. The Trouble with Harry Winston. www.nymag.com. January 18, 1999 . New York. December 2, 2015.
  16. Web site: Pristin. Terry. New Partners Hope to Expand Harry Winston. December 22, 2000. The New York Times. December 2, 2015.
  17. https://www.swatchgroup.com/en/investors-space/previous-annual-and-half-year-reports "Key Figures 2013."
  18. Web site: Diamond deal: Swatch swoops for Harry Winston. January 14, 2013. www.standard.co.uk. Evening Standard. December 2, 2015. London Evening Standard.
  19. Web site: Ward. Kate. Jordan. Tina. Books: 5 worst of 2008. www.ew.com. December 23, 2008. Entertainment Weekly. December 2, 2015.
  20. Web site: Locate a Harry Winston Salon or a retail affiliate. www.harrywinston.com. Harry Winston Inc.. December 2, 2015.
  21. Book: Lee, Sally. The National Museum of Natural History. 2017. Capstone. 9781515780076. en.
  22. Oscar Jewels: Where Are They Now?. People. July 30, 2014. March 15, 2004.
  23. Web site: Marc S. Malkin. Deborah Schoeneman. Model Home Gets a Makeover. February 6, 2003 . New York Magazine; New York Media. July 30, 2014.
  24. Web site: Portuguese Diamond. www.mnh.si.edu. Smithsonian Institution. December 2, 2015. December 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151224013920/http://www.mnh.si.edu/earth/text/dynamicearth/6_0_0_GeoGallery/geogallery_specimen.cfm?SpecimenID=4077&categoryID=1&categoryName=Gems&browseType=name. dead.
  25. Web site: Lot 382: A MAGNIFICENT AND HISTORIC SAPPHIRE PENDANT, BY CARTIER . 19 November 2003 . Geneva, Switzerland . Christie's . 7 August 2017.
  26. Web site: Spanish Inquisition Necklace . August 28, 2020 . Internet Stones.COM.
  27. News: CUTTING IS STARTED ON VARGAS DIAMOND. December 7, 2011 . The New York Times. April 10, 1941.