Events & AwardsFeb 04, 2025
Van Cleef & Arpels’ Astronomy-Inspired Jewelry to Land at AMNHSourcingFeb 20, 2025
Harry Winston’s Son Donates Fancy Red Diamond to the Smithsonian
Ronald Winston is giving the 2.33-carat “Winston Red” to the Smithsonian, 67 years after his father donated the Hope Diamond.
PHOTO The 2.33-carat “Winston Red” diamond is the centerpiece of a collection of natural colored diamonds that Ronald Winston, son of Harry Winston, has donated to the Smithsonian Institute. At 2.33 carats, it’s one of the largest fancy red diamonds in the world. (Photo credit: Robert Weldon/Photo courtesy of Ronald Winston)
PHOTO The “Winston” Red will go on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., alongside the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection, an assemblage of 40 stones that showcases the color range of diamonds. Seen here is a selection of diamonds from the collection. (Photo credit: Robert Weldon, arranged by Gabriela Farfan/Photo courtesy of Ronald Winston)
Washington, D.C.—The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is adding 41 natural colored diamonds, including a rare 2.33-carat fancy red, to its gem collection, all courtesy of the son of the “King of Diamonds.”
Ronald Winston, eldest son of Harry Winston, is gifting the museum the “Winston Red” diamond and the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection, an assemblage of 40 stones in total.
The museum announced the donation on Tuesday and said the stones will be unveiled to the public on April 1.
“This ranks among the most significant gifts ever received by the Smithsonian,” the National Museum of Natural History’s Sant Director Kirk Johnson said.
“The Winston diamonds are unprecedented in their beauty and rarity, and we are thrilled to welcome them as additions to our National Gem Collection. We extend our gratitude to Ronald Winston for making this gift to the nation possible.”
The diamonds will be on display in the Winston Gallery, which was named for Harry Winston and houses the Hope Diamond, which the famed diamantaire donated to the museum in 1958, a gift the museum said laid the groundwork for the National Gem & Mineral Collection.
Related stories will be right here …
Ronald Winston, eldest son of Harry Winston, is gifting the museum the “Winston Red” diamond and the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection, an assemblage of 40 stones in total.
The museum announced the donation on Tuesday and said the stones will be unveiled to the public on April 1.
“This ranks among the most significant gifts ever received by the Smithsonian,” the National Museum of Natural History’s Sant Director Kirk Johnson said.
“The Winston diamonds are unprecedented in their beauty and rarity, and we are thrilled to welcome them as additions to our National Gem Collection. We extend our gratitude to Ronald Winston for making this gift to the nation possible.”
The diamonds will be on display in the Winston Gallery, which was named for Harry Winston and houses the Hope Diamond, which the famed diamantaire donated to the museum in 1958, a gift the museum said laid the groundwork for the National Gem & Mineral Collection.
Red diamonds are considered the rarest of all diamonds, and it is rarer still to see ones that are 1 carat or larger in size.
The 2.33-carat “Winston Red” is one of the largest red diamonds graded as a fancy red by the Gemological Institute of America, the museum said, and is an old mine brilliant-cut diamond, which suggests it was cut before the mid-1900s.
A full study on the science and history of the “Winston Red” is slated to be included in the spring 2025 issue of “Gems & Gemology,” GIA’s quarterly journal.
“The red diamond is the highlight of my career, and I have never seen anything else like it,” Ronald said.
“This donation to the museum represents my life’s achievements in this domain, and I am so happy to share this collection with the [Smithsonian] Institution and the museum’s visitors.”
A 4.11-carat emerald-cut yellow diamond from the collection (Photo credit: Robert Weldon/Photo courtesy of Ronald Winston)
These five fancy pear, oval, and heart-shaped pink diamonds are part of the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection. (Photo credit: Robert Weldon, arranged by Gabriela Farfan/Photo courtesy of Ronald Winston)
The 40 diamonds in the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection range in color from a soft peach to a deep teal and in size from 0.40 to 9.49 carats.
Ronald, who just turned 84 and worked in the family business for decades, amassed the collection over 60 years.
Following the release of the 2023 biography Ronald wrote on his father Harry, Ronald said in an interview with JCKOnline that he missed the jewelry business, particularly the “creative element of finding rare, extraordinary things.”
“In this collection, we have diamonds in colors I could never have dreamed of,” said Gabriela Farfan, who took over as the museum’s Coralyn W. Whitney curator of gems and minerals in May 2023.
“These gems give us the opportunity to share with our visitors the full range of colors in which diamonds occur.”
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Sourcing
The Latest
PodcastsOct 21, 2026
Episode 10: This Episode Is Haunted Diana Singer shared the stories of two “cursed” diamonds on this month’s podcast, which was inexplicably riddled with technical issues.
IndependentsOct 21, 2026
Gardner-Collier Jewelry to Close After 9 Decades in BusinessThe family-owned jeweler has three locations across Missouri and Iowa.
CollectionsOct 21, 2026
Helzberg, Nordstrom Carrying New Jewelry Collection From Off-WhiteThe collection centers designs with clean geometric lines, chunky sculptural pieces, and recognizable details from the luxury fashion brand.
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Launches 2026 Holiday Campaign Championing Natural DiamondsA Diamond Is Forever's holiday campaign reimagines natural diamond icons for a new generation celebrating individuality.
CrimeOct 20, 2026
Security Guard Charged With Murder in Shooting at Texas MallThe guard opened fire on a man who was smashing a jewelry display case at La Gran Plaza in Fort Worth last week, police said.
Weekly QuizOct 15, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsOct 20, 2026
David Gardner’s Jewelers Unveils Newly Expanded, Revamped ShowroomThe Texas jeweler added 2,000 square feet to its reimagined showroom, complete with a new design studio and an event space.
SourcingOct 20, 2026
The $50M Victoria’s Secret ‘Fantasy Bra’ By The NumbersJacob & Co.'s diamond masterpiece is the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever worn on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway.
Brought to you by
Open an Account, Get $50 Off Your First Order. No Code Needed.Built on Relationships. Refined by Craft.
CollectionsOct 20, 2026
Mignon Faget’s Collection Chooses Handmade Over AIThe “Atelier” collection was inspired by the tools, rituals, and objects in an artist’s studio as a quiet rebuttal to an automated world.
MajorsOct 19, 2026
The Knot to Acquire Rival Wedding Planning Platform ZolaThe pending acquisition is an “exciting opportunity” for wedding vendors to grow their business, said The Knot Worldwide’s CEO.
SourcingOct 19, 2026
Jewelry Design Competition Show Airs in Thailand"The Secret Gems" features eight Thai jewelry brands paired with a team of young craftspeople who create jewelry together to win challenges.
CollectionsOct 19, 2026
John Hardy Enters the Medallion Chat With Talisman Collection The brand’s “Modern Talisman” capsule collection introduces pendants inspired by the mythology, natural world, and spiritual ethos of Bali.
IndependentsOct 19, 2026
The Stories of 5 Jewelers Celebrating Their Centennials in 2026Independent jewelers from New Mexico to New Jersey answer the question: What has kept your store in business for 100 years?
SurveysOct 16, 2026
How Inflation, Gas Prices Will Affect Holiday Sales The NRF is expecting holiday sales to increase this year, but consumers and retailers alike are facing Grinch-like headwinds.
CollectionsOct 16, 2026
Christina Puchi’s Earrings Hold the UniverseOur Piece of the Week gathers the planets, represented by a variety of colored gemstones, in a pair of 14-karat yellow gold earrings.
IndependentsOct 16, 2026
Reeds Jewelers Expands, Relocates FlagshipThe New York-based jeweler is moving its Amherst flagship store to a larger location in nearby Snyder.
MajorsOct 16, 2026
Katy Chen Appointed Executive Vice President of Graff USA Chen, who worked at Cartier and Tiffany & Co., will lead retail sales and operations for the luxury jeweler’s 11 U.S. stores.
IndependentsOct 15, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Amy and Elise Greenberg For 40 years, sisters Amy and Elise Greenberg have helmed their 126-year-old family business, leading with appreciation and integrity.
ColumnistsOct 15, 2026
Peter Smith: What Is the Culture REP?It’s a term Smith coined and felt compelled to share following a bad experience with an aborted flight and an unfeeling flight attendant.
WatchesOct 15, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb’s New Movado Watches Are Made for Your Wrist StackMovado teamed up with the New York-based fine jewelry designer on a new collection of Movado Museum Velura watches.
SourcingOct 15, 2026
Signet Jewelers, Richemont May Join Bidder for De Beers, Report SaysThe two companies are reportedly in talks to join the Global Diamond Consortium, led by former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny, as per Bloomberg.
CollectionsOct 15, 2026
Wolf x Marla Aaron's New Jewelry Box Is for Some (Not All) of Your ThingsThe “Some of the Things” box follows the two larger “Everything” box designs with the look and function of antique sewing and toolboxes.
IndependentsOct 14, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Coleman and Mitchell ClarkFourth-generation jewelers Coleman and Mitchell Clark exemplify the best qualities of their predecessors: humility, modesty, and confidence.
SourcingOct 14, 2026
Manuel Marcial de Gomar, ‘The Emerald Whisperer,’ Dies at 90The gem hunter, whose 70-year career was defined by adventure and exploration, is remembered for his steadfast faith and sense of wonder.
FinancialsOct 14, 2026
LVMH’s Jewelry Brands Turn in ‘Very Good’ Performance in Q3 Tiffany & Co. continued its full-scale store renovation project while Bulgari’s high jewelry collection generated “record-breaking revenue.”
Events & AwardsOct 14, 2026
Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference Releases 2026 ProgramThis year’s sessions feature leading voices from human rights, legal, and conservation organizations.
MajorsOct 13, 2026
David Webb Owner Purchases Lugano JewelryThe high-end jewelry retailer was sold to private investment firm Middle West Partners and a group of longtime clients.
