Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVI

1 2 2 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Famous Diamonds & Gemstones Throughout the course of his career, it is estimated that Harry Winston owned more than one-third of the world’s most famous and coveted diamonds. Often purchased as rough stones, in the hands of Harry Winston, these incredible stones were transformed into legendary gems – earning him the nickname, “King of Diamonds.” Beyond his success in business, Mr. Winston had a life long wish to share his passion for diamonds with the world. Through his immense collection of rare jewels, Winston was able to educate the public – so they too could share in his passion – raise money for local charitable causes, and help to establish the National Gem Collection at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Some of the most famous and intriguing diamonds share their history with the House, including the legendary Hope Diamond. Among the greatest diamonds ever discovered, perhaps none have captivated the world more than the Hope Diamond. At 45.52-carats, the size and deep blue hue of the Hope Diamond made it a rare wonder of nature, but its extraordinary history made it world famous. Discovered in the Golconda mines of India, the diamond was acquired by a French gem merchant in the mid-seventeenth century. This incredible rarity soon became a royal treasure when the diamond was purchased by King Louis XIV of France in 1668, who ordered the diamond to be recut. Named the “French Blue,” the gem served as one of the centrepieces of the French Crown Jewels for more than a century, eventually passing onto Louis XVI andMarie Antoinette. It was under their reign that the era of the “French Blue” would end, when the diamond was stolen from the Treasury during the French Revolution, disappearing for nearly 40 years. Somehow, it found its way to England and was acquired by King George IV, before being purchased by Washington, D.C. socialite Evelyn Walsh McLean in 1911. Upon her death in 1947, Harry Winston purchased this legendary diamond and soon realised that this priceless treasure, which had spanned centuries and continents, deserved to be shared with everyone. From 1949-1953, the Hope Diamond toured America as part of Harry Winston’s famed exhibition The Court of Jewels – a magnificent traveling collection featuring his most impressive and historic gems) – with each stop used to help raise funds for leading local charities. In 1958, he donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where it remains on permanent display in the Harry Winston Gallery, attracting more than 7 million viewers a year, making it one of the world’s most visited museum artifacts.