Origins & Early Life

Harry Winston (né Weinstein; March 1, 1896 – December 8, 1978) was an American jeweler. He donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958 after owning it for a decade. He also traded the Portuguese Diamond to the Smithsonian in 1963 in exchange for 3,800 carats of small diamonds. Winston founded Harry Winston, Inc.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

in New York City in 1932. He was called by many the "King of Diamonds". Winston's father Jacob Weinstein started a small jewelry business. He and Winston's mother were Jewish immigrants to the United States from the Russian Empire. While growing up, Harry worked in his father's shop.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

When he was twelve years old, he recognized a two-carat emerald in a pawn shop, bought it for 25 cents, and sold it two days later for $800. Winston started his business in 1920, the same year he changed his name from Weinstein, and opened his first store in New York City in 1932. Winston's jewelry empire began in 1926, with his acquisition of Arabella Huntington's jewelry collection, for $1.2 million. The wife of railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington, Arabella amassed one of the world's most prestigious collections of jewelry, largely from Parisian jewelers, such...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada — Contemporary (Born in 1896) (1896): Pioneering global spread of Krishna consciousness teachings and the Hare Krishna mantra.
• Alfred Nobel — Contemporary (Died in 1896) (1896): Pioneering chemist, inventor of dynamite, and founder of the Nobel Prizes.
• Anton Bruckner — Contemporary (Died in 1896) (1896): Master of Austro-German Romanticism, renowned for monumental symphonies and sacred works.
• Adolf Dassler — Contemporary (Died in 1978) (1978): Pioneering German cobbler and inventor who founded the sportswear giant Adidas.
• Ayumi Hamasaki — Contemporary (Born in 1978) (1978): Japanese Pop Icon, 'Empress of Pop,' best-selling solo artist in Japan.
• Balabhaskar — Contemporary (Born in 1978) (1978): Pioneering Indian violinist and composer known for promoting fusion music.
• 6th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (03-01 · Born) (1683): The 6th Dalai Lama, a spiritual figure known for his unconventional lifestyle and profound influence in Tibet.
• Alain Resnais — Shared historical date (03-01 · Died) (2014): Pioneering French filmmaker exploring memory, consciousness, and narrative structure.
• Ante Pavelić — Shared historical date (12-28 · Died) (1959): Croatian politician and dictator of the Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945)
• Armando Manzanero — Shared historical date (12-28 · Died) (2020): Mexican composer and singer, celebrated for defining the romantic sound of postwar Latin America.
• 1896 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1896
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