King of Diamonds

Enter the glamorous domain of world-famous jewellery house, Harry Winston, and discover the true rags-to-riches story of the immigrant family behind the phenomenon.

Harry Winston’s famous slogan for his success was: “knowledge, courage, and the ability to finance.” King of Diamonds: The Flawless World of Harry Winston is the quintessential rags-to-riches success story of a very poor immigrant family emigrating from Ukraine to America. It is the story of how one man, Harry Winston, created a famous name with his company, founded in New York City in 1932. Winston became known for the owning and sales of very large diamonds. At one point, he owned a third of the world’s most famous gems, including the Hope Diamond, which earned him the moniker “King of Diamonds.”

The book details how author Ronald Winston’s father got his start and began what would eventually become the most famous jewellery house in the world. Peek inside his first office, an upstairs Fifth Ave location, followed by subsequent locations in Rockefeller Centre, an office across from St. Patrick&&&39;s Cathedral, and finally an image-building store on Fifth Avenue.

Known as the “Jewelleer to the Stars,” Winston’s gems have appeared both on the Hollywood red carpet and in famous Hollywood films like Notorious starring Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant, The Graduate starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. Celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Viola Davis, Helen Mirren, Gwyneth Paltrow, and many more have worn Winston pieces on Hollywood’s biggest nights.

The story then follows Harry Winston’s successor and heir, Ronald Winston, and his making of the family name. Under Ronald, the company’s name would not remain just famous, but would become world-famous. Ronald built locations in Los Angeles, Hawaii, Japan, and China. Ronald’s saga continued with his entry into the revolution in Angola, buying diamonds from its charismatic leader, Jonas Savimbi. Ronald Winston risked his life in order to make profits that repaid the death taxes caused by his father’s passing.

In all, King of Diamonds is a joyous evocation of two men who added an innumerable amount to the image, story, and marketing of luxury products, as well as to the joy of people who love and purchase these objects.

After all, as frequent Winston jewellery-wearer Marilyn Monroe would say, “diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

“A thrilling tale of entrepreneurship and an enthralling look into one of the jewelry industry&&&39;s most famous self-made men.”
—Instore&&&160;(the magazine for the American jewelry store owner)

"A fascinating, detailed, candid, and compelling read from start to finish, King of Diamonds: Harry Winston, the Definitive Biography of an American Icon . . .&&&160;is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university library American Biography collections. It should also be noted for the personal reading lists of anyone with an interest in the jewelry business and the biographies of the rich and famous."
—Midwest Book Review

“Winston pulls back the curtain to reveal the man behind the iconic brand. A story about family love, loyalty, and a shattering betrayal.”
—Sally Mann, bestselling author of Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs

“You can’t judge a book by its cover, but you can certainly judge one by its title. And&&&160;King of Diamonds&&&160;says it all. Published 65 years after famed jeweler Harry Winston donated the 45-carat Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution, his only living son, Ronald Winston, has penned a biography that offers an enlightening glimpse into the life of a man who once owned a third of the world’s most famous gems. Replete with stories about all of the business rivalries, red-carpet loans, and high-profile clients you could ask for, it’s as glamorous as nonfiction gets.”
—Natural Diamonds

“When I find myself dreaming of diamonds, which happens from time to time, I think ‘Harry Winston.’ Ron dressed me in Harry Winston jewels when I hosted the Oscars, and Miss Piggy and I were draped in a bajillion
dollars’ worth of them when we sang our rendition of ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.’ Ron’s love for his father—and the company they built—as well as his wicked sense of humor shine through. King of Diamonds
is an important biography and a great read.”
—Whoopi Goldberg

“King of Diamonds is a slick, deep dive into the world of pure money: the diamond business and the greatest American purveyor of this rarest of gems. Harry Winston’s life was one long extravaganza, like living inside a Fabergé egg. The saga of his rise and his son’s losing battle to save his legendary emporium is a tale of obsession, daring, deception, and a life beyond the dreams of avarice.”
—John Lahr, author of Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh