The newest exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is ready to shine bright. On April 1, the museum will unveil the Winston Red Diamond, one of the largest red diamonds in the world.
The red diamond was a donation to the Smithsonian from Ronald Winston, son of famous jeweler Harry Winston. It will appear as part of the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection.
The 2.33-carat gem is among the largest diamonds the Gemological Institute of America has given the “Fancy red” color grade. This vibrant color occurs in less than one in 25 million diamonds.
“This ranks among the most significant gifts ever received by the Smithsonian,” said Kirk Johnson, the Sant Director of the National Museum of Natural History. “The Winston diamonds are unprecedented in their beauty and rarity, and we are thrilled to welcome them as additions to our National Gem Collection.”
The Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection is an exhibit 60 years in the making, thanks to Ronald Winston’s dedication to acquiring, collecting, and donating some of the world’s most precious gems.
The collection will feature 40 diamonds, in addition to the Winston Red Diamond. The gems of all shapes and cuts will feature every color of the rainbow, from deep teal to soft peach.
“In this collection, we have diamonds in colors I could never have dreamed of,” said mineralogist Gabriela Farfan, the Coralyn W. Whitney Curator of Gems and Minerals. “These gems give us the opportunity to share with our visitors the full range of colors in which diamonds occur.”
The exhibit will be in The Harry Winston Gallery. The gallery is also home to the Hope Diamond, which the famous jeweler gave to the Smithsonian in 1958.
Feature image by Robert Weldon, courtesy Ronald Winston
