Editor’s Note
This article profiles Nayla Hayek, who, upon acquiring Harry Winston, immediately cemented her own legacy in the luxury world with historic diamond purchases, truly becoming a modern queen of the industry.
Nayla Hayek | Courtesy of Harry Winston
When Swiss billionaire Nayla Hayek purchased the legendary jewelry brand Harry Winston in 2013, she promised to uphold Mr. Winston’s reputation as the ‘King of Diamonds.’ Shortly after the acquisition, Hayek went on a record-breaking buying spree, acquiring an 18.96 carat fancy vivid pink diamond for $50 million, a 13 carat fancy blue diamond for nearly $24 million and a flawless 101.73 carat diamond for $26.7 million. And she hasn’t stopped since.
Frances Gerety (Photo courtesy of De Beers)
Frances Gerety was a junior copywriter at N.W. Ayer & Son in 1947 when she was asked to come up with a slogan for De Beers that expressed the romance of a diamond. Late one night at the office, she wrote down “a diamond is forever,” a tagline that inextricably tied diamonds to lasting love.
That famous tagline was awarded the slogan of the century by Advertising Age in 1999, and after 75 years, it remains emblazoned in everyone’s conscience when they think of love and diamonds.
Alisa Moussaieff (Photo by Mikhail Mendelevich) | Courtesy of Moussaieff
Nothing stops octogenarian Alisa Moussaieff, who has been chasing down the world’s best and rarest diamonds and gems for more than half of a century. As the matriarch of her family’s 800-year-old jewelry business, Moussaieff remains one of the industry’s most respected power players, although she prefers to keep a low profile. Over the decades, she has acquired numerous record-breaking stones, but is most famous for buying the Moussaieff Red, an extraordinary 5.11 carat fancy red diamond.
Maureen Muggeridge | Courtesy of Maureen Muggeridge
