Oscar Wilde declared, ‘I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.’ Legendary jeweler Harry Winston passion for gems began at an early age in his father’s small Los Angeles jewelry store. His youthful pawnshop find of a two carat emerald thought to be costume jewelry showed his keen eye and beginning of his quest for excellence in jewelry design. Harry Winston founded his namesake store in 1932 on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Winston was a passionate gemologist who’s acquisitions included the world’s most famous gemstones including The Hope Diamond, Star of the East, Jonker and Vargas. Fabled romances begat gems from his major acquisitions rendered into stunning designs dictated by the stones. The Duke of Windsor bought the McLean Diamond for the Duchess. Aristotle Onassis proposed to Jacqueline Kennedy with a 40.42 marquise cut diamond engagement from cut from the Lesotho. Richard Burton passionate love for Elizabeth Taylor led him to have Harry Winston to cut his largest diamond into a necklace for his lady. Harry Winston jewelry has long been the favorite of ladies and gentleman of distinction in international society, royalty, haute couture, world leaders and entertainment.
Winston found inspiration everywhere for his elegant designs. Observation of ice formations on the holly wreath around his Scarsdale home of led to the Sparkling Cluster collection. Since his identity to the public was a secret for his insurance company barred him from publicity. The Secrets collection was designs of artfully exquisite bracelets, earrings and necklaces in brilliant diamonds each have a secret element. A hidden gem, a cleverly concealed motif, swivel locket or detachment to diversify a jeweled piece de resistance.
The Bridal Collection celebrates expressions of love for the modern couple in rings with the Harry Winston signature halo effect in the highest quality clear E, D and F diamonds presented in platinum settings. Belle was created as Art Deco homage to Winston’s Acquisition of railroad heiress Arabella Huntington’s jewel collection in 1926. The beauty in nature of his inspiration continues in today’s jewelry collections of the same name Sunflower, Lily Cluster, Water, and Charms to name a few.
His title “Jeweler to the Stars” started after dressing Jennifer Jones for her Best Actress Oscar win for “The Song of Bernadette”.Jessica Chastain, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Natalie Portman and Anne Hathaway collected their Oscar Awards adorned in Harry Winston diamonds.
His reputation as a high end watchmaker began in 1989 with his first limited edition watch collection debut. The company continues with a design competition chosen from an elite group of designers each year presented at Basel. The Harry Winston Charitable Foundation has a long history of philanthropy and supporting local communities. Since 2015 Harry Winston has been the supporting sponsor of amfAR, The American Foundation for AIDS Research. Their ongoing commitment includes 27 amfAR glamorous galas around the world to fund Countdown to a Cure. The Count Down to a Cure watch donates 20% of proceeds from sales to the initiative to fund research for a cure to HIV/AIDS by 2020.
The classic elegant grey salons located in New York, Paris, Geneva, Tokyo, Shanghai and Dubai currently total thirty stores worldwide . Openings are planned for more locations and a new larger flagship location on Fifth Avenue in New York City in the fall. Clientele are welcome to view the collections by appointment arranged by phone or online. Walk-ins are welcomed by a knowledgeable and gracious staff.
The Harry Winston collection is a magnificent keepsake for celebration of life’s many milestones graduation, romance, engagements, push presents, nuptials and anniversaries for generations to treasure.