The Splendor of Harry Winston
Harry Winston has consistently made waves and commanded their presence in the spotlight. This is the jewelry house that was once the home of the Hope Diamond (among many other historic gems). Its founder was dubbed “King of Diamonds” for his uncanny ability to source phenomenal stones from all corners of the globe, and jewels from the House’s coffers have accompanied many an award winner onstage.
But the buoyant mid-twentieth century marked a particularly impressive set of milestones for Harry Winston. In 1952 the house was reported as having the world’s second-largest collection of historic jewels, trailing only the British royal family. Its place as a pop-culture icon was firmly secured when a certain blonde film megastar name-checked the House during an onscreen dance number. And she was by no means alone—all the era’s most prominent tastemakers were clamoring for Harry Winston jewels.
One reason for that long list of accolades is the House’s pitch-perfect ability to craft classic, extravagantly beautiful jewelry that strikes a powerful emotional chord. Take, for example, the Harry Winston Sunflower Collection. Based on the instantly identifiable flower that’s played muse to artists for centuries, its jewels are beguiling at first sight. First designed in the 1950s, the collection is infused with the same pure, lighthearted energy as those towering flowers that are always seeking the sun.
Harry Winston created a simple motif of a single stone surrounded by diamonds to capture the sunflower’s essence and nature’s majesty. It contains multitudes of meanings. The shape is charming and accessible in its simplicity, but the streamlined contours are sophisticated and modern. These qualities have made the collection an enduring favorite among jewelry collectors with wildly divergent style identities—from minimalists allergic to inessential flourishes to romantics with a taste for ribbons and bows.
Great design has a way of bringing people together, especially when it’s able to inspire hope and joy with a glance. And a piece of exceptional jewelry such as these can inspire for a lifetime, and beyond.
Botanical BeautyThe Sunflower Collection reinterprets the unmistakable silhouette of the blossom as an exceptional jewel. A central gem—a diamond or precious colored gemstone—surrounded by a halo of eight diamond petals forms the motif that repeats across the collection. Never out of fashion in the 75 years since it was first introduced, it exudes bright, unpretentious delight that will be equally adored in generations to come.
To mark the 75th anniversary of Sunflower, two new gemstones have joined the collection’s luminous palette. Each brings with it a fresh, distinctive point of view. Vivid emeralds burst with vitality and evoke the spirit of nature, while luscious pink sapphires are subtle and alluring. They join earlier interpretations of Sunflower with precious stones at their center: classic white diamond, radiant yellow diamond, majestic blue sapphire, and seductive red ruby.
Single-minded devotion to creating spectacular jewels with nature’s most prized and rare materials is what made Harry Winston a legend. That legacy remains constant today with every jewel that bears his name—very much including the Sunflower Collection. Each piece is fashioned from platinum—treasured for its supreme luster and strength that holds every gem with total security—by the House’s artisans.
Endlessly adaptable and utterly timeless, Sunflower translates to any hour of the day, every moment in a full and vibrant life. The collection extends from casual essentials—delicate pendant necklaces and studs, petite rings—that make everyday dressing a special event. And still its high-jewelry offerings, such as a necklace composed of end-to-end diamond sunflowers totaling more than 25 carats, are the showstoppers of galas, red carpets, and best-dressed lists.
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