Harry Winston Engagement Ring with 3.02ct E VVS1 Round

Among the famed gemstones that Harry Winston (1896–1978) encountered over the course of his career was the Hope diamond, which he donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. Today, Winston is regarded as the “King of Diamonds” and the “Jeweler to the Stars” as one of the first to recognize the branding power of lending glitzy earrings, necklaces and other fine jewelry for red-carpet events.

Winston’s father had immigrated to New York from Ukraine and ran a small jewelry shop where a young Harry learned about precious stones, enough, the story goes, to identify a real emerald in a heap of pawnshop jewelry at the age of 12. His early success involved turning that eye to estate sale collections that he transformed by freeing gemstones from dated ornamentation, giving them new cuts and modern settings. He opened Harry Winston Inc. in 1932, where he influenced 20th-century-jewelry trends by always elevating the stones rather than adding the lavish decorations that had pervaded jewelry in the 19th century.

The first of the celebrated diamonds to be purchased by Winston was the 726-carat uncut Jonker, acquired in 1935. Many others followed, including the 726.60-carat Vargas from Brazil which, in 1938, he tracked down across multiple continents after he read a brief newspaper notice about its discovery. The rarity and beauty of the gemstones he pursued and presented in his boutiques made the Winston brand synonymous with excellence.

Winston was also a pioneer of marketing as the first jeweler to dress an Academy Awards nominee when he loaned some diamond jewelry to Jennifer Jones for the 1944 Oscar ceremony. Winston was renowned for his eye for the finest of gemstones and the ability to design pieces in order to best flaunt their natural dazzle. He regularly showed off his collection in touring exhibitions, such as the 1949 “Court of Jewels,” which featured the Hope diamond. His storied past and long legacy is continued by the House of Harry Winston and its salons in Japan, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. 

On 1stDibs, find a stunning collection of Harry Winston jewelry that includes bracelets, wedding rings, engagement rings and other accessories.

M&V Vanguard Jewelry was established in 2002 and to our days we`ve been committed to the highest standards of custom jewelry design and production. We believe that every person is unique and every wish can become a reality. That is what we do and we`ve been doing it successfully for more than a decade. Picture your ideal piece of jewelry, customize it in your dreams and our specialists will create exact copy of your imagination. Where others say: “It`s impossible”, we say: “We`ll be proud to make it for you.” Let us know what you have in mind and allow us to transform your vision into art of jewelry. We are jewelry design and manufactory based in Midtown, Manhattan. Our main specialty is custom made jewelry such as: diamond engagement rings, wedding bands, cocktail rings, diamond earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Our doors are opened for individuals who shop for engagement rings and companies that in search of reliable and skilled jewelry contractor. We can supply either 1 or 100 pieces of jewelry. Contact our office to discuss possibilities of doing business together or schedule an appointment to see us in person.