【Washington, 】How the ‘King of Diamonds’ Gave the National Museum of Natural History Its Crown Jewel

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.

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.

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.