King of Diamonds: Harry Winston, the Definitive Biography of an American Icon

by Ronald Winston, William Stadiem

This authoritative and intimate biography, written by his only living son, Ronald Winston, marries the Gilded Age glamour and romance of Edith Wharton with the ruthless family dynamics of HBO’s hit series, Succession .
 
Few American success stories rival that of Harry Winston. Born Harry Weinstein, he came from humble roots—his parents were poor Jewish immigrants who left Ukraine around 1890 for New York, where they settled and started a small jewelry business.  His genius for spotting priceless gems emerged young. When Harry was twelve years old, he recognized a two-carat emerald in a pawn shop and bought it for 25 cents, selling it two days later for $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. 
 
Harry Winston built his empire while the Depression raged, World War II reshaped the world, and America entered its post-war period of prosperity. In this riveting biography, readers get a bird’s eye view of the dangers of the diamond trade and the lengths men would go to get their hands on the best of the “rough.” There’s also a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous, who clamored for Winston’s gems. Although he traveled the world doing business with kings, queens, and movie stars, Winston remained a devoted family man, whose chief wish was that his sons carry on the legacy he had built.
 
Harry’s older son Ronald Winston worked alongside his father for decades. After Harry’s death, Ron grew the company into the international brand that is still revered today. He ran it expertly, until he was forced to sell the company, due to his younger brother’s maligning 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.
 
KING OF DIAMONDS is at once a portrait of American ingenuity at its best, and the story of sibling rivalry that is Shakespearean in its tragedy.   

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, History, Biography

400 pages, Hardcover

Published September 19, 2023

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is based on a DRC. King of Diamonds – Harry Winston, The Definitive Biography of an American Icon by Ronald Winston and William Stadiem is both a biography of the legendary jeweler Harry Winston and an autobiography by his elder son Ronald. The biography portion of the book is a fascinating look at Harry Winston’s life, from his early years in New York City, the son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, to his death at in 1978 at age 82. In his lifetime he built an empire based on the acquisition and sale of diamonds and among the famous stones he acquired was the Hope Diamond, which he donated, along with other diamonds, to the Smithsonian Museum. His expertise with gems was evident early; at age twelve, while working in his father’s small New York jewelry store, he noticed a ring with a green stone in a pawn shop and purchased it for 25 cents. He sold the two-carat emerald a few days later for $800 (about $27,000 in 2023 dollars). He opened his first store in 1932 and was well known for buying large collections of estate jewelry. He sold jewelry to the wealthy and famous and was the first to loan expensive items to be worn on the Oscar red carpet. At one point his diamond business, which included both cut and set jewels and rough stones, rivaled the De Beers monopoly. His story is the quintessential poor boy’s success and the glittering road to that success is an intriguing read.
The more challenging portion of the book is the autobiographical material by Ronald Winston that is interleaved with Harry’s biography. Ronald Winston, who reluctantly took over the business his father built, is a Harvard educated chemist who would have preferred to work on rocket propulsion rather than buying and selling gems. His exploits, as well as his father’s, in the pursuit of diamonds are interesting reading, but he spends a portion of the book laying out in detail who is not to be trusted or liked, including his younger brother Bruce, with whom he had a decades-long feud over the business. Also, the authors’ inclination to overwrite hinders the flow of the narrative at times. That tone and phrases like “I had become the Eloise of that grand caravansary” and “they were pretending they were classy, sophisticated Gothamites” detract from the readable, well researched main subject – a history of diamonds and Harry Winston’s prominent role in it.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an interesting book by the son of Harry Winston, who tells a lot of his own life in the process. The book progresses chronologically for the most part through Harry's life, adding in details about his upbringing without wealth, as well as both interesting wealthy people that he met over his lifetime and many details about the diamond industry. It kept my attention pretty well.

Good for: anyone interested in the history of the diamond industry and hidden "gems", pun intended, about back-goings-on during a few turbulent times in history.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

[Ligia Bonetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most amazing biography of an amazing man. Loved to know about Harry Winston.

[Maki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for more jewelry was designed and created but it is more of Harry Winston’s son Ron who authored this book.