Brilliant legacy: the individuality of Harry Winston's Classic Winston diamond rings

A Harry Winston diamond ring doesn’t have to be one that relies on someone else choosing for you. The Classic Winston collection speaks to a different moment entirely—one where a woman decides, on her own terms, that she deserves something extraordinary. These are rings built around diamonds selected for their exceptional quality, set in platinum engineered to nearly disappear. They’re investments in yourself, worn as statements of personal achievement rather than promises from others.

The collection follows strict parameters. Every diamond carries a colour grade of D, E or F—the three classifications indicating stones that appear colourless to the naked eye; and clarity ranges from flawless to VS2, meaning any inclusions are invisible without magnification. These thresholds arbitrary. They represent the point at which a diamond transitions from attractive to architecturally brilliant; where light behaviour becomes predictable and spectacular.

Classic Winston Emerald Cut Diamond Ring (Photo: Courtesy of Harry Winston)

All centre stones in this collection start at one carat, and stones are available in various shapes. Emerald-cut diamonds, with their stepped facets and clean parallel lines, were Winston’s personal preference—he appreciated their architectural clarity. Round brilliant cuts deliver maximum light dispersion through 58 precisely angled facets, while pear shapes combine the round brilliant’s fire with an elongated silhouette. Cushion cuts feature rounded corners and larger facets, while oval shapes create a lengthening effect on the finger.

The stones are set in platinum: it’s 30 per cent denser than gold, hypoallergenic, and with a colour that won’t fade or require rhodium plating. Every setting starts as a hand-drawn sketch that balances visual elegance against engineering requirements: weight distribution, comfort for daily wear and durability across decades. Harry Winston’s craftsmen use delicate prongs to maximise stone visibility while providing structural security—the tapered platinum shanks thin as they approach the centre stone, creating the optical effect of a diamond floating above the hand.

Classic Winston Emerald Cut Diamond Ring, paired with diamond band (Photo: Courtesy of Harry Winston)

Classic Winston Round Brilliant Diamond Ring, paired with diamond band (Photo: Courtesy of Harry Winston)

The brand has long been renowned for its approach to diamonds. When Winston opened his New York atelier in 1932, he built his reputation by acquiring exceptional stones before others could—for example, the 726-carat Jonker stone, which he split into 12 gems, and the Hope diamond. His pieces appeared on royalty and at Hollywood premieres, but the underlying philosophy was simple: source the finest stones, cut them to maximise their inherent character and set them in a way that the metal becomes invisible. The Winston Blue and Winston Legacy diamonds represent the continued legacy of the House as the “King of Diamonds,” with the Winston Blue being a record-breaking 13.22-carat flawless vivid blue diamond and the Winston Legacy a 101.73-carat internally flawless colourless diamond—both acquired at world-record prices per carat, showcasing Harry Winston’s unparalleled expertise in securing the rarest and most exceptional gems.

The Classic Winston collection maintains that discipline. Each ring represents a calculated tension— between the diamond’s natural optical properties and the restraint required in its presentation’ between structural necessity and aesthetic minimalism. It’s jewellery that continues Harry Winston’s legacy as the King of Diamonds.