King of Diamonds

Ronald Winston, the eldest son of Harry and Edna Winston, was born in New York City in 1941 and raised in Westchester, New York. As an undergraduate at Harvard University, he was twice recognized by the American Rocket Society for research in solid propellants. He graduated from Harvard in 1963 with a degree in chemistry, then worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New York University developing rocket propulsion technologies. In his late twenties, at the request of his father, he joined the executive team at Harry Winston, Inc. When his father passed away in 1978, Ron assumed leadership of the company, turning it into the global luxury brand that is revered today. He left the company in 2013 and returned to his first love, science. Winston holds many science patents and is currently working in biotech on developing a cure for cancer. He lives in California with his wife and son.  William Stadiem is the author of such bestsellers as Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe Confidential, and Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond. He has contributed to Vanity Fair and Town & Country and was the Hollywood columnist for Andy Warhol’s Interview and the restaurant critic for Los Angeles Magazine. Stadiem is also a screenwriter whose credits include Elizabeth Taylor’s last starring vehicle, Franco Zeffirelli’s Young Toscanini, and the television series L.A. Law. He lives in Santa Monica, California.

“A thrilling tale of entrepreneurship and an enthralling look into one of the jewelry industry's most famous self-made men.”—Instore (the magazine for the American jewelry store owner)"A fascinating, detailed, candid, and compelling read from start to finish, King of Diamonds: Harry Winston, the Definitive Biography of an American Icon . . . is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university library American Biography collections. It should also be noted for the personal reading lists of anyone with an interest in the jewelry business and the biographies of the rich and famous."—Midwest Book Review“Winston pulls back the curtain to reveal the man behind the iconic brand. A story about family love, loyalty, and a shattering betrayal.”—Sally Mann, bestselling author of Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs“You can’t judge a book by its cover, but you can certainly judge one by its title. And King of Diamonds says it all. Published 65 years after famed jeweler Harry Winston donated the 45-carat Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution, his only living son, Ronald Winston, has penned a biography that offers an enlightening glimpse into the life of a man who once owned a third of the world’s most famous gems. Replete with stories about all of the business rivalries, red-carpet loans, and high-profile clients you could ask for, it’s as glamorous as nonfiction gets.”—Natural Diamonds“When I find myself dreaming of diamonds, which happens from time to time, I think ‘Harry Winston.’ Ron dressed me in Harry Winston jewels when I hosted the Oscars, and Miss Piggy and I were draped in a bajilliondollars’ worth of them when we sang our rendition of ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.’ Ron’s love for his father—and the company they built—as well as his wicked sense of humor shine through. King of Diamondsis an important biography and a great read.”—Whoopi Goldberg“King of Diamonds is a slick, deep dive into the world of pure money: the diamond business and the greatest American purveyor of this rarest of gems. Harry Winston’s life was one long extravaganza, like living inside a Fabergé egg. The saga of his rise and his son’s losing battle to save his legendary emporium is a tale of obsession, daring, deception, and a life beyond the dreams of avarice.”—John Lahr, author of Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh