How the ‘King of Diamonds’ Gave the National Museum of Natural History Its Crown Jewel

From the legendary Hope Diamond to a rainbow of colorful gemstones, a multigenerational bond between the Winston family and the Smithsonian transformed the museum’s world-renowned gem collection

On November 10, 1958, a small brown parcel arrived by registered mail at the National Museum of Natural History. Plastered with postage stamps and marked with bright red letters reading FRAGILE, the unassuming package concealed a glittering treasure. Later that day, during a formal ceremony, Smithsonian Secretary Leonard Carmichael unveiled what would become the crown jewel of the museum’s collection and a true Smithsonian icon: the Hope Diamond. 

The brilliant 45.52-carat deep-blue diamond was donated to the museum by distinguished jeweler and gem collector Harry Winston. Presented as a gift to the American people, the Hope Diamond marked the beginning of a 65-year relationship between the Winston family and the Smithsonian Institution, united by a shared goal to bring the Earth's natural wonders to the public. 

“The Hope Diamond set the cornerstone of the National Gem Collection as we know it,” said Gabriela Farfan, the museum’s Coralyn W. Whitney Curator of Gems and Minerals. “Harry Winston's additional gifts, such as the Gachala Emerald and the Oppenheimer Diamond, were essential to building what has become the largest museum gem and mineral collection in the world.”

Known as the “King of Diamonds,” Harry Winston entered the gem business at just 15, eager to help his parents as a purveyor in their jewelry store. Even as a child, Winston had a natural acuity for the gem trade. A favorite family legend tells of a time when a young Winston walked into a pawnshop, spotting a green gem in a tray of costume jewelry. The owner thought it was glass, but Winston knew better. He paid 25¢ for the emerald, along with a second stone to ward off suspicion, and just two days later, sold the gem for $800. It was the first spark in what would become an illustrious career.

As a young man, Winston struck out on his own, building a successful wholesale company in New York City that led to the founding of Harry Winston, Inc. in 1932. Winston maintained a lifelong passion for diamonds, devoting his life to the collection of spectacular gems. But he wanted more for his jewels than to remain in private collections, believing that the United States deserved a space where every member of the public could enjoy these rare and radiant natural creations.

According to the museum’s former curator of gems and minerals, Jeffrey Post, Winston was fond of saying, “We don't have a king and queen, but we should have our crown jewels.”

The Hope Diamond has a story as elaborate as its glittering facets. Although the exact origin of the diamond remains unknown, it was likely discovered in the Kollur Mine in the Golconda region of India. In the 17th century, it was acquired by French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. 

Tavernier sold the diamond to King Louis XIV in 1668, who had it cut into the heart-shaped "French Blue" gem and featured it as part of the French Crown Jewels. During the French Revolution in 1792, the French Blue was stolen and vanished from records. It resurfaced in London in 1812, recut and renamed the Hope Diamond after one of its many owners, Henry Philip Hope.

Over the years, the Hope Diamond passed through the hands of British aristocrats and American socialites, each adding to its mystique and legend. Eventually, Harry Winston acquired the gem from the estate of American heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean in 1949, immediately recognizing not only its dazzling beauty but its extraordinary historical and geological significance. Winston would become the diamond’s final private owner before entrusting it to its permanent home in the National Museum of Natural History.

“The Hope Diamond is one of the most important specimens at the Smithsonian and one of the most famous objects of human history,” said Farfan. “A significant portion of the U.S. population has seen it on exhibit, and the addition of the Hope Diamond to the National Gem Collection inspired countless future gifts to the museum.” 

Since its arrival at the museum, the Smithsonian has celebrated the gem with numerous exhibit features and collaborations, including trips to France, South Africa and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. 

In 1995, actress Michelle Pfeiffer wore the Hope Diamond for a Life Magazine photo shoot. As part of the diamond’s 50th anniversary celebration at the museum, model Hilary Rhoda also had the rare honor of donning the gem. It was temporarily set in a brilliant necklace titled "Embracing Hope," designed by Harry Winston, Inc., featuring 340 baguette diamonds totaling 66 carats. 

Today, the Hope Diamond remains one of the Smithsonian’s most visited and photographed objects. The gem draws millions of visitors each year, some marveling at its storied past — tales of kings, curses, and robberies — others simply mesmerized by its deep, blue glow. 

Remarkably, the Hope Diamond was only the beginning of the Winston family’s legacy at the Smithsonian. Harry Winston donated several more spectacular gems to the museum throughout his lifetime, each adding to the dazzling tapestry of the National Gem Collection. He would often encourage his high-profile clients to gift their own gems to the National Collection.

In April 2025, Harry’s son Ronald Winston donated the Winston Red Diamond and the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection to the museum. Each of the 40 breathtaking diamonds is bestowed with a coveted “Fancy color” grading, unprecedented in their beauty and rarity. Displayed alongside the Hope Diamond in the museum’s Harry Winston Gallery, the gems are arranged in a radiant rainbow of color, featuring every shade imaginable from deep teal to soft peach.

The donation is the result of 60 years of dedicated acquisitions by Ronald Winston, who was proud to see the collection unveiled next to his father’s iconic gem. “I have always, since I can remember, been a lover of colored diamonds and have collected them throughout my life,” said Winston. “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 visitors to the museum.”

The Winston family’s enduring philanthropy and connection to the Smithsonian is built on a shared commitment to preserving and celebrating Earth’s rarest wonders. Exquisite gems like the Hope Diamond and the Winston Red Diamond continue to captivate millions of museum visitors each year, serving as a reminder that the greatest treasures are meant to be shared.

Emma Saaty | Read More

Emma Saaty is a Science Communications Specialist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.  She brings science to the public by covering natural history research for Smithsonian Magazine's, Smithsonian Voices.  Additionally, she tracks media coverage and coordinates filming activities for the museum’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs.  Emma recently completed her Bachelor of Science in Biological Anthropology with a minor in Journalism at George Washington University where she conducted research on Virunga mountain gorillas with GW’s Life History and Skeletal Biology laboratory.  You can find her here.