King of Diamonds: Harry Winston

The Definitive Biography of an American Icon

By Ronald Winston & William Stadiem

Harry Winston’s life story marries the gilded age glamour and romance of Edith Wharton with the ruthless family dynamics of HBOs hit series, Succession. This biography of the American Icon pulls back the curtain on the world’s most recognizable luxury brand and draws an indelible, unforgettable portrait of the true cost of the American Dream.

No American success story rivals that of Harry Winston. His genius for spotting priceless gems emerged young. When he was a boy of eight or so, Harry bought a green ring for 25 cents at a pawn shop in Manhattan. When he showed the ring to his jeweler father, it turned out to be a two-carat emerald worth $800—a massive sum in the early 1900s. From that moment on, Harry became obsessed with gems, especially diamonds. A compact, unassuming man with no formal education, but unlimited drive and ambition, Harry Weinstein transformed himself into Harry Winston, the enigmatic figure who created the world’s most prestigious luxury brand.

Ronald Winston, Harry’s eldest son and the person who took Harry Winston, Inc global, recounts his father’s life in a story at once inspiring, personal, and ultimately deeply tragic. We learn about the dangers of the diamond trade and the lengths men would go to get their hands on the best of the “rough.” We also get a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous, who clamored for Winston’s gems.

Harry Winston built his empire while the depression raged, World War II reshaped the world, and America entered its post-war period of prosperity. While he did business with kings, queens, and movie stars, he remained a devoted family man, whose chief wish was that his sons would carry on the legacy he had built.

Ronald Winston, his elder son, worked alongside his father for decades, and then, after Harry’s death, grew the company into the international brand that is still revered today. Until, that is, he was forced to sell the company, due to his younger brother’s unscrupulous litigation. This is the story of a family business that survived and thrived for more than a century, until it was undone by one, bitter family member. It is at once a portrait of American ingenuity at its best, and the story of sibling rivalry that is Shakespearean in its tragedy.