Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVIII

1 9 2 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I K nown as the King of Diamonds and Jeweller to the Stars, Harry Winston was hailed as the very best at what he did. And what he did was nothing short of revolutionising modern-day fine jewellery. Today, his innovative philosophy – in which the gemstones, rather than metals, dictate the design – continues to set the standard for the ultimate in fine jewellery and remains at the cornerstone of a timeless aesthetic that inspires all Winston designs. Origins Much like the rare gemstones and precious jewels he built his life around, Winston was a man of many hidden facets. He possessed an air of intrigue and allure even at the height of his personal fame, and he harboured a fondness for mystery – all of which inspires the Secrets of Harry Winston collection that we’ve been sharing with our readers in recent editions of Simply Jewellery. An innate gemologist, an intuitive business man, a dedicated philanthropist, and perhaps the ultimate risk-taker, Mr Winston’s career was marked by daring adventures and headline-grabbing tales of the world’s most exceptional diamonds and gemstones, encounters with Heads of State and red carpet royalty, industry wide firsts, and an innovative design philosophy that forever changed the way in which fine jewellery could and should be worn. His legend began when, wanting to pursue his passion and understanding for precious gemstones, Winston left school at 15 years old and went to work at his father’s small Los Angeles jewellery shop. In 1920, he moved back to New York City to open his first business, the Premier Diamond Company. Navigating through the competitive diamond market proved to be a difficult feat, so Winston looked to an alternative source for purchasing more affordable gemstones – estate jewellery auctions. Mr Winston had a remarkable eye for diamonds, and what some would call Harry Winston’s SecretWonders