The Rise Of Harry Winston Jewelry!
American jeweler Harry Winston was born March 1st, 1896 Having owned the Hope Diamond for ten years, he gave it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. He also exchanged 3,800 carats of little diamonds for the Portuguese Diamond at the Smithsonian in 1963.
1932 saw Winston launch Harry Winston, Inc. in New York City. Many referred to him as the “King of Diamonds.”
Winston’s father, Jacob, launched a little jewelry company. His mother and he were Russian Empire Jewish immigrants to the United States. Harry worked at his father’s store as a youngster. Twelve years ago, he saw a two-carat emerald in a pawn shop, paid 25 cents for it, and sold it for $800 two days later. Winston founded the company in 1920 and in 1932, he built his first shop in New York City.
With his $1.2 million purchase of Arabella Huntington’s jewelry collection in 1926, Winston launched his jewelry empire.Arabella, the wife of railroad billionaire Henry E. Huntington, acquired one of the most well-known jewelry collections in the world, primarily from Parisian jewelers like Cartier. The jewelry designs in the collection were very out of date when Winston acquired it after her death. Winston revealed his special talent in jewelry making by redesigning the pieces into more modern designs.
