Harry Winston. The name is synonymous with glamorous jewelry and show-stopping gems. His designs have graced the necklines of fabulous starlets for years. But while his jewelry shone under the flashing lights on the red carpet, Harry Winston himself shied away from the spotlight. A quick image search reveals tons of sparkling gems but nary a sign of the man himself. Winston clearly calculated his presence and let his work speak for itself.
Under the watchful eye of Harry Winston, a gem revealed its true assets. With no formal training as a mineralogist, Winston built his career on the strong foundation of knowledge passed down from his father, a Ukrainian immigrant and self-trained jeweler. After opening his first namesake store in New York in 1932, refined and timeless styles quickly became Winston’s trademark, building a lasting reputation for first-class quality. But perhaps one of Winston’s most overlooked talents was product placement. He clearly understood the need for the general public to appreciate the beauty and value of a diamond. In order to accomplish this, diamonds needed to be visible. Enter Hollywood.
Winston once said, “People will stare: make it worth their while,” and that’s exactly what he did for the leagues of fans staring at Hollywood’s leading ladies. He began lending jewelry to Hollywood studios free of charge. Winston became the first jeweler to loan diamonds to an actress for the Academy Awards. In 1943 he dressed Best Actress winner Jennifer Jones in his signature diamonds. Subsequently, his gems appeared on the necklines of starlets both on screen and off. The ladies of the big screen were more than willing to don the luxurious jewelry, and, without the use of flashy ads or billboard signs, Winston’s creations were on display for the general public.
Today, it’s assumed that Hollywood’s hottest starlets donning the most elegant jewelry at high-profile events are wearing Harry Winston’s creations. From Marilyn Monroe to Madonna, Winston’s diamonds have been an integral part of Hollywood’s glamorous history, solidifying his status as Jeweler to the Stars. When Marilyn Monroe crooned the lines “talk to me Harry Winston, tell me about it” in the classic song “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” she wasn’t just name-dropping, she was seeking serious gem advice. If diamonds truly are a girl’s best friend, then Winston is a soul mate.
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Admittedly, not everyone stares at the starlets on the silver screen. But if the bright lights of Hollywood don’t entice you, how about the renowned halls of the world’s largest museum complex? The addition of Specimen #217868 to the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is perhaps one of Winston’s most laudable contributions to the American people. The specimen, known to the public as the Hope Diamond, is seen by millions of visitors each year and has become simply iconic.
Winston owned and shared many of the world’s most valuable jewels, including the Blue Heart, the Smithsonian’s second blue diamond, but none captured the attention of visitors quite like the Hope. Whether because of its size and color or stories of its mysterious past, the stone brings visitors from all over the world and has transcended the halls of history to obtain pop culture status. The jewel remains the most popular attraction at NMNH.
As NMNH celebrates the 50th anniversary of the donation of the Hope, it’s only fitting that the Winston Gallery commemorate this special anniversary with a newly designed, temporary setting for the timeless Hope Diamond. And who better to choose the new setting than those that gaze upon its beauty? Three lovely new Winston designs are up for consideration.
