By Sedef Kokcuoglu
When
other children my age begged their grandmothers to tell them fairytales
of handsome princes saving damsels in distress, I repeatedly asked mine
to show me her jewelry collection, which she kept stashed away in elusive
hiding spots. Her most prized piece was a diamond broche by Harry Winston
that sparkled like the northern star on a clear night and with this piece
began my fascination with the exquisite and beautiful gemstones of the
Winston House. To this day I vividly recall how she would let me only
look and not that touch that heavenly thing and how I yearned to hold
it in the palm of my hand. Years later when entering Harry Winston’s
Fifth Avenue location to interview Vice President Richard Winston, I
experienced the same anticipation that used to leave me breathless on
those special days with my grandmother and her treasures.
As I was being escorted into the brilliantly decorated
magnificent main room of the store, I caught a glimpse of Mr. Winston,
who sat in his usual spot, leaning over his work, and realized once more
how closely he resembled the classic New York gentleman I was used to
seeing in old black and white movies. I have met jewelers all over the
world and bought exquisite pieces from many, but my interactions with
them have always remained strictly within the confines of business transactions.
In Harry Winston, however, this impeccably dressed, pleasant man has
always made me feel as if I was an acquaintance having a pleasant conversation
with him; not over tea, but rather over diamonds, emeralds and rubies.
Harry Winston, also known as the “ultimate jeweler,” has
created some of the most exceptional pieces of jewelry adorned with some
of the most fabulous gemstones ever discovered. The Jonker, the Niarchos,
the Taylor Burton, the Winston, the Star of Independence, the Star of
Sierre Leone, the Idol’s Eye, the Arcots, the Nepal, the Briolette
and the Indore Pear Shapes are some of the many magnificent diamonds
that have been in the company’s possession.
As Richard Winston confidently proclaims Winston jewels “start
on good and go to the best.” Indeed, placed next to even the most
exclusive pieces created by other jewelers, the trained eye can identify
a Winston almost immediately, for their jewels are set apart by their
immaculate gemstone quality, unmatched craftsmanship, and unique designs.
In fact, the House of Winston “cuts the stones, creates the designs
of its jewelry and markets all its products all under one roof, while
most other jewelers job their projects out or buy their designs.”
Harry Winston once said, “No two diamonds are
alike. Each diamond has a different nature. Each diamond has different
problems. Each diamond must be handled as you handle a person.” Thus,
each Winston creation begins with the selection and cutting of the potentially
perfect stone, acquired from the most distinguished providers from all
over the world. Then top quality designers come up with elegant, graceful,
original and fluid designs, which will preserve the individuality of
each stone. (Harry Winston himself was the one to begin this trend by
creating the “light prong setting” at a time when jewelry
settings used to be “heavy”.) Finally, in the skilled hands
of craftsmen, which honor centuries old traditions the one-of-a-kind
designs and gems cut to perfection are combined to create finished pieces,
which dazzle the eye of the beholder.
Given that Harry Winston deals with jewels of exceptional
quality and beauty as well as unbelievable value, one should not be surprised
to find out that royalty and celebrities of past and present have been
the traditional customers of the company. Richard Winston himself has
numerous fond memories of having done business with many intelligent,
wealthy and tasteful people. In his opinion “buying jewelry requires
more than just money. People need to have taste. You have to have the
taste to know what is right for you.”
Change has impacted not only the diversity of Winston
products, but also the way in which they are advertised. I am sure not
one of our readers has recently skimmed through the pages of Vogue or
Bazaar without coming across a beautiful image of Carolyn Murphy adorned
with brilliant Winston diamonds across her head, taking one’s imagination
back to the heyday of Grace Kelly. According to Mr. Winston this new
marketing tactic has been immensely successful. He says that clients
come into the store bearing torn-out advertisements featuring the top
model and demand to purchase the pieces she is wearing.
By the end of my meeting with Mr. Winston it was clear
to me, that I as an avid fan and loyal customer of the Winston House
could still expect the company to continue to produce timeless jewelry
of infinite beauty, such as my grandmother’s broche. And I have
no doubt that Harry Winston, best known for its innovative approach to
the jewelry business, will continue to evolve and grow, even as it expands
and changes in ways that not even its founder could not have imagined.
The magic of Winston is very much a reality. This Christmas
I wish the brilliance of Harry for all Fashionlines women. May your 2005
be as luminous, dazzling, and bright as a flawless diamond.
|