Harry Winston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harry Winston
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Harry Winston
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| Born | March 1, 1896 |
| Died | December 8, 1978 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Jeweler |
| Years active | 1908–1978 |
| Known for | Harry Winston, Inc. |
| Relatives | Stephanie Winston Wolkoff (granddaughter by adoption) |
Harry Winston (born March 1, 1896 – died December 8, 1978) was a famous American jeweler. He was known for owning and selling many of the world's most beautiful and valuable diamonds. He even gave the famous Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. He also traded the Portuguese Diamond to the Smithsonian in 1963 for many smaller diamonds.
Winston started his own company, Harry Winston Inc., in New York City in 1932. Many people called him the "King of Diamonds" because of his amazing work with these precious stones.
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How Harry Winston Started
Harry Winston's journey into jewelry began with his father, Jacob, who had a small jewelry business. His parents were immigrants from Ukraine. Harry grew up helping in his father's shop.
When he was just twelve years old, Harry showed his talent. He spotted a two-carat emerald in a pawn shop. He bought it for only 25 cents! Just two days later, he sold it for $800. This early success showed his sharp eye for gems. Harry officially started his own business in 1920 and opened his first store in New York City in 1932.
Building a Diamond Empire
Harry Winston's jewelry business really took off in 1926. He bought a huge collection of jewelry from a woman named Arabella Huntington. She was the wife of a rich railroad owner and had one of the world's best jewelry collections.
When Winston bought her collection for $1.2 million, the jewelry designs were quite old-fashioned. Harry Winston was a master at redesigning pieces. He took the old jewelry and gave it a fresh, modern look. This showed off his special skill in crafting beautiful new jewelry.
When Harry Winston passed away, he left his company to his two sons, Ronald and Bruce. They later had a long disagreement over who would control the business. In 2000, Ronald, with a new business partner, bought Bruce's share of the company.
Harry Winston's Lasting Impact
Harry Winston became one of the most famous jewelers in the world. Many people knew his name. He was even mentioned in the 1953 musical movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. In the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend", someone says, "Talk to me, Harry Winston, tell me all about it!" This shows how well-known he was.
A comic novel called Chasing Harry Winston was also published in 2008. This shows his continued fame.
Today, Harry Winston, Inc. still has many stores around the world. You can find them in big cities like New York, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, and many other places.
Famous Diamonds Harry Winston Owned
Harry Winston owned, bought, and sold some of the most famous and valuable diamonds in history. Here are a few of them:
- The Arcots: These were two large, pear-shaped diamonds. Winston bought them and recut them to make them even more brilliant.
- The Blue Heart: This was a beautiful, heart-shaped blue diamond. Harry Winston bought it in 1959, set it in a ring, and sold it to Marjorie Merriweather Post. She later gave it to the Smithsonian Institution.
- The Briolette of India: A very rare, colorless diamond cut in a special "briolette" shape.
- The Hope Diamond:
This is one of the most famous diamonds in the world. It is a large, dark grayish-blue diamond. Harry Winston bought it in 1949. In 1958, he famously donated it to the Smithsonian Institution. He even sent it to the museum by regular registered mail! The package he used is now part of the Smithsonian's collection.
- The Idol's Eye: A large, light blue diamond with a unique shape. Winston bought it in 1946 and later sold it as the center stone of a diamond necklace.
- The Indore Pears: These were two large, colorless, pear-shaped diamonds once owned by an Indian Maharaja. Winston bought them in 1946 and later featured them in his famous 'Court of Jewels' exhibit.
- The Jonker: This diamond started as a huge, 726-carat rough crystal. Harry Winston bought it in 1935. It was cut into twelve different gems, with the largest being a 125-carat emerald cut.
- The Lesotho: Discovered in 1967, this pale brown diamond was cut into eighteen different stones by Winston. One of the largest pieces was bought by Aristotle Onassis for his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
- The Louis XIV: A large, flawless, pear-shaped diamond. It was believed to have belonged to King Louis XIV of France. Winston bought it in 1958 and later had it recut.
- The Mabel Boll: This large, emerald-cut diamond was owned by a famous American socialite known as the "Queen of Diamonds." Harry Winston bought it after she passed away.
- The McLean Diamond: A beautiful, colorless diamond that Harry Winston bought from the estate of Evalyn Walsh McLean. He later sold it to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
- The Nassak: This diamond has a long history, originally from India. Winston bought it in 1940 and had it recut into its current emerald shape.
- Napoleon Diamond Necklace:
This necklace has 47 diamonds and weighs a total of 275 carats. Napoleon gave it to his wife, Empress Marie-Louise, in 1811. Harry Winston bought the necklace in 1960 and later sold it to Marjorie Merriweather Post, who then willed it to the Smithsonian Institution.
- The Niarchos: This huge, flawless, pear-shaped diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1954. Winston bought it and had it cut. It was then purchased by Greek shipbuilder Stavros Niarchos, whose name it now carries.
- The Oppenheimer: A very large, light yellow, uncut diamond crystal. Harry Winston bought it in 1964 and then donated it to the Smithsonian Institution.
- The Portuguese: A large, faint yellow diamond with a strong blue glow. Harry Winston traded this diamond to the Smithsonian in 1963.
- Star of the East: A large, pear-shaped diamond that Winston bought from the estate of Evalyn Walsh McLean.
- The Vargas: This was a massive, 726.6-carat uncut diamond. Harry Winston oversaw its cutting into 29 smaller, beautiful stones.
