Smithsonian acquires one of the world's largest "Fancy Red" Diamonds
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Friday, April 4, 2025


Smithsonian acquires one of the world's largest "Fancy Red" Diamonds
The Winston Red Diamond, an exquisite 2.33 carat Fancy red diamond - one of the finest in the world. Photo by Robert Weldon, courtesy of Ronald Winston.



WASHINGTON, DC.- The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History will unveil the Winston Red Diamond and Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection Tuesday, April 1—an extraordinary showcase of some of the world’s rarest and most dazzling gems.

The breathtaking diamonds were gifted to the museum by Ronald Winston, the son of distinguished jeweler and gem collector Harry Winston. In 1958, Harry Winston donated the iconic Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian, laying the foundation for the National Gem Collection. Now, the Winston Red Diamond and Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection will be featured in the museum’s Winston Gallery, offering visitors the rare opportunity to witness one of the finest collections of fancy color diamonds ever amassed.

“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. We extend our gratitude to Ronald Winston for making this gift to the nation possible.”

Natural red diamonds are among the rarest gemstones on Earth, and the Winston Red Diamond stands out as exceptional. At 2.33 carats, it ranks among the largest diamonds ever bestowed with the coveted “Fancy red” color grade by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Researchers estimate that less than one in 25 million diamonds is a Fancy red, and the Winston Red Diamond is one of the most exquisite in existence.

“The red diamond is the highlight of my career, and I have never seen anything else like it,” Ronald Winston said. “This donation to the museum represents my life’s achievements in this domain, and I am so happy to share this collection with the Institution and the museum’s visitors.”

While some colorful diamonds get their pigmented appearance from atomic impurities in their crystal structure, the Winston Red Diamond’s striking crimson hue is the product of extremely high pressure and temperature conditions deep within the Earth that strained and altered the crystal. The diamond features an old mine brilliant cut, a style that predates the round brilliant cut used in engagement rings today. With fewer, larger facets, this distinctive cut suggests the stone was fashioned before the mid-1900s. A study on the science and history of the Winston Red Diamond is forthcoming in the spring 2025 issue of Gems & Gemology, the quarterly professional journal of the GIA.

“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 Winston Red Diamond will be displayed alongside 40 other gems from the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection. The diamonds will be arranged in a radiant rainbow of color, featuring every shade imaginable from deep teal to soft peach.

The Winston Red Diamond and Fancy Color Diamond Collection are the result of 60 years of dedicated acquisitions by Ronald Winston. Alongside the Hope Diamond, the new display will honor the legacy of the Winston family and showcase the brilliance and rarity of these exceptional gems.










Today's News

February 20, 2025

A landmark exhibition re-examines Post-WWI German art at Neue Galerie

Gwen O'Neil's "A Glimmer in the Shade": Nature's beauty and haunting truths at Almine Rech

Exhibition at arebyte Gallery explores the nature of subjective reality

Huguette Caland: A Life in a Few Lines, the first major European retrospective of the Lebanese artist

Christie's presents Post-War to Present

Yet Another Morning: A century of drawing unveiled at Moderna Museet

Paul McCartney to offer photographs taken during rise of Beatlemania

A Room Hung With Thoughts: Contemporary British painting takes center stage in Dallas

Smithsonian acquires one of the world's largest "Fancy Red" Diamonds

Iconic portraits from the pages of trail-blazing magazine, The Face celebrated in major exhibition

Elmgreen & Dragset's "Momentan nicht erreichbar": A world of introspection at Galerie Max Hetzler

MACBA exhibition showcases Carlos Motta's powerful art and activism

Gallery KIWA presents 'In the Flow', Hong Sooyeon's first exhibition in London

Kang Sunkoo. Sacristy: New exhibition at the Bauhaus Dessau

Smithsonian Craft Show opens April 24

ARCOmadrid 2025 consolidates its position as a benchmark due to the quality of art exhibited

The Fundació Joan Miró presents how from here, the new Espai 13 season of exhibitions for 2025

Ora-Ora presents Halley Cheng solo show Never Describe a Sunset

Exhibition showcases 60 masterworks of European, American and Puerto Rican art

A new commission at Somerset House: Salt Cosmologies

How Online Gossip Forums Influence Modern Pop Culture

Exploring AI Adult Art: The Future of Creative Expression or Just Another Online Gimmick?

Can You Lose Your Home Due to a Title Dispute?

Why Multifamily Investments Are Outperforming Single-Family Rentals

Adobe Creative Cloud's Power Players: The 5 Apps That Rule the Creative World

The Hidden Costs of Trailer Ownership: Why Renting is the Smarter Choice

The Psychology Behind Cold Calling: Understanding Buyer Behavior

How to Care for Your Dental Implants: Essential Maintenance Tips

How Smart HVAC Systems Are Revolutionizing Home Automation

The Evolution of Roofing Materials: From Traditional to Modern Solutions

10 Signs Your Car Needs Immediate Auto Repair Services

How Xipster Helped Lightning HVAC Boost Payments via SMS

How Gay Cam Models Use Performance Art to Captivate Their Audience

Technology and Security: How Married Dating Sites Protect Users

Western Belles Slots & Fruit Blast Casino: A Perfect Blend of Classic and Modern Gambling




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
(52 8110667640)

Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful