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A remarkable collection of fancy colour diamonds is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History after a generous donation. | Source: Smithsonian

Harry Winston’s rare red diamond stuns visitors

Posted April 01, 2025 | By Samuel Ord

A remarkable collection of fancy colour diamonds is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History after a generous donation.

In February, it was confirmed that Harry Winston's eldest son, Ronald Winston, had donated a collection of 41 rare diamonds.

Headling the exhibition is the Winston Red, a 2.33-carat fancy colour red diamond. Gabriela Farfan, a mineralogist and curator at the museum, said it was important to emphasise just how rare this stone is.

Gabriela Farfan, a mineralogist and curator at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum

"It’s not reddish brown, it’s not reddish purple, it’s not reddish pink. It’s red."

Gabriela Farfan, Smithsonian Natural History Museum

“There are very few red diamonds on the planet and fancy red is a very specific distinction. It’s not reddish brown, it’s not reddish purple, it’s not reddish pink. It’s red,” she said.

Farfan invited seven experts to examine the diamond. This study generated a paper that will appear in Gems & Gemology, a journal published by the Gemological Institute of America.

Wuyi Wang, vice president of the GIA, said the standards are high: “A natural diamond getting a fancy red colour grade is extremely rare.

"First, it needs to be a perfect colour in that range, and then the saturation needs to be perfect as well. If it’s too dark, it goes to black, and if it’s too light, it goes to pink.”

The Winston Red and Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection showcase at the National Museum of Natural History will run indefinitely.