A biography/memoir that reads like a novel. Ronald Winston captures the story of his father's rise from nothing to become synonymous with the biggest and most extravagant jewels in the world. Ronald Winston, the heir to the throne, tells both his father's story and his own, revealing a few secrets along the way including fascinating detours into WWII spycraft and a student's view of Harvard University in the 1960s. It clearly was no easy task living up to the Winston name, but Ronald Winston took on the role after his father's death, stewarding the brand through tough times in the 1980s, an interesting example of how a brand associated with a single person struggles after that person's passing. It's also a cautionary tale of inheritances and sibling squabbles on the grandest scale and a reminder that when family fights family, no one wins.

Quite an interesting book by the son of Harry Winston, who tells a lot of his own life in the process. The book progresses chronologically for the most part through Harry's life, adding in details about his upbringing without wealth, as well as both interesting wealthy people that he met over his lifetime and many details about the diamond industry. It kept my attention pretty well.

Good for: anyone interested in the history of the diamond industry and hidden "gems", pun intended, about back-goings-on during a few turbulent times in history.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

The book is told by his so . it was a very interesting story of Harry Winston. He was a son of immigrant parents. If you love jewelry, it is a fun book to read.

I have long known Harry Winston as a name synonymous with luxury and quality within the jewelry industry. I had no idea the fascinating story of the person and family behind the brand and thank Ronald Winston for writing it. It couldn't have been easy, especially writing about the end of his involvement prior to his departure. I was especially touched in reading that Ronald recorded his father's oral history and thankful as it provided such great detail and specifics to the stories and made the reader feel like they were there in the room with these fabulous jewels and remarkable people.

This is a well-written, engaging biography that provides insight into broader US history, as well as the subject's life.

Four stars!

Mr. Winston had an interesting life and journey to build the empire we know today. Worth the read.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Wonderful novel about the fame jeweler Harry Winston . The novel is written by William Stadiem and Winston ‘s oldest son Ronald Winston .
Winston’s story is very inspiring and interesting, The son of immigrant parents who found and built and empire in the jewelry business to become one of the most recognizable name in the world. A great read for anyone who loves money , jewelry and power .

I just reviewed King of Diamonds by Ronald Winston; William Stadiem. #KingofDiamonds #NetGalley

King of Diamonds by Ronald Winston & William Stadiem is a biography of Harry Winstone,, written by his oldest son and ghostwriter. (Are they still considered a ghostwriter if their name is on the cover???) And it is fascinating!!!! Back when I was living in NYC, fresh out of college, my bestie worked in HW's 5th Avenue showroom. Though I'd been inside many times, I knew nothing about the man and his family who built the business. It's probably best to take some of the family drama with a gran of salt, but overall this is an incredible look at a man who became a brand name, and a glamorous era in history. Highly recommend!

King of Diamonds – Harry Winston, The Definitive Biography of an American Icon by Ronald Winston and William Stadiem is both a biography of the legendary jeweler Harry Winston and an autobiography by his elder son Ronald. The biography portion of the book is a fascinating look at Harry Winston’s life, from his early years in New York City, the son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, to his death at in 1978 at age 82. In his lifetime he built an empire based on the acquisition and sale of diamonds and among the famous stones he acquired was the Hope Diamond, which he donated, along with other diamonds, to the Smithsonian Museum. His expertise with gems was evident early; at age twelve, while working in his father’s small New York jewelry store, he noticed a ring with a green stone in a pawn shop and purchased it for 25 cents. He sold the two-carat emerald a few days later for $800 (about $27,000 in 2023 dollars). He opened his first store in 1932 and was well known for buying large collections of estate jewelry. He sold jewelry to the wealthy and famous and was the first to loan expensive items to be worn on the Oscar red carpet. At one point his diamond business, which included both cut and set jewels and rough stones, rivaled the De Beers monopoly. His story is the quintessential poor boy’s success and the glittering road to that success is an intriguing read.
The more challenging portion of the book is the autobiographical material by Ronald Winston that is interleaved with Harry’s biography. Ronald Winston, who reluctantly took over the business his father built, is a Harvard educated chemist who would have preferred to work on rocket propulsion rather than buying and selling gems. His exploits, as well as his father’s, in the pursuit of diamonds are interesting reading, but he spends a portion of the book laying out in detail who is not to be trusted or liked, including his younger brother Bruce, with whom he had a decades-long feud over the business. Also, the authors’ inclination to overwrite hinders the flow of the narrative at times. That tone and phrases like “I had become the Eloise of that grand caravansary” and “they were pretending they were classy, sophisticated Gothamites” detract from the readable, well researched main subject – a history of diamonds and Harry Winston’s prominent role in it.