A rare natural wonder is about to take center stage at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History—a diamond so extraordinary that only a handful exist in the world. The Winston Red Diamond, a 2.33-carat fancy red gem, will soon be unveiled alongside the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection, a breathtaking ensemble of 40 natural colored diamonds. This dazzling donation comes from Ronald Winston, son of the legendary jeweler Harry Winston, a name synonymous with the world’s most extraordinary gems.
To many, this donation may seem like a remarkable act of generosity, but for Ronald Winston, it is a tribute. His father set the benchmark for legendary Smithsonian acquisitions in 1958 when he gifted the Hope Diamond, forever linking the Winston name to the museum’s prestigious National Gem Collection. Now, decades later, Ronald continues that legacy with a collection that not only embodies rarity but also celebrates nature’s most exquisite creations.
“This donation represents my life’s achievements in this domain,” Ronald Winston reflected. “The Winston Red Diamond is the highlight of my career, and I have never seen anything else like it. I am so happy to share this collection with the institution and the museum’s visitors.”
The Rarity of Red Diamonds & The Winston Fancy Color Collection
Natural red diamonds are among the rarest gemstones on Earth, with fewer than one in 25 million earning the coveted “fancy red” grade from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). At 2.33 carats, the Winston Red Diamond stands as one of the largest fancy red diamonds ever documented. Unlike the Hope Diamond, whose blue hue results from trace elements, the Winston Red’s mesmerizing crimson color is born from intense pressure and heat deep within the Earth’s mantle, subtly distorting its atomic structure to produce its fiery, blood-red brilliance.
Yet, the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection adds another layer of significance to this historic unveiling. This ensemble of 40 natural-colored diamonds, each a rarity in its own right, will be displayed in a dazzling rainbow formation, showcasing hues ranging from deep teal to soft peach. Curated over six decades, these gems represent some of the rarest and most valuable fancy-color diamonds ever assembled.
Gabriela Farfan, the Coralyn W. Whitney Curator of Gems and Minerals, expressed awe at the collection:
“In this collection, we have diamonds in colors I could never have dreamed of. These gems give us the opportunity to share with our visitors the full range of colors in which diamonds occur.”
Among these extraordinary stones, the Winston Red Diamond is undoubtedly the crown jewel. Unlike modern round brilliant diamonds, it is cut in an old mine brilliant style—a shape dating back centuries that emphasizes depth over sparkle. This suggests it was fashioned before the mid-1900s, adding an air of mystery. Where did it originate? Who first marveled at its deep red glow?
A New Chapter in the Smithsonian’s Gem Legacy
The Winston Red Diamond and Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection will soon take their place among the most storied gems in history, housed in the museum’s Winston Gallery—a fitting tribute to a name long associated with the world’s most celebrated diamonds. Johnson, the Sant Director of the National Museum of Natural History, called it “one of the most significant gifts ever received by the Smithsonian.”
Beyond their aesthetic and historic value, these diamonds will also become subjects of scholarly exploration. A scientific study on the Winston Red Diamond and select stones from the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection will be published in the Spring 2025 issue of Gems & Gemology, the GIA’s prestigious journal, offering deeper insights into their geological journeys.
For visitors, this exhibition presents a rare opportunity to witness not just one but 41 extraordinary natural diamonds, each a marvel shaped by time, pressure, and sheer geological wonder. As the Smithsonian prepares to unveil this spectacular collection, it cements yet another chapter in its legacy of preserving nature’s greatest treasures—one radiant facet at a time.
Featured image: Smithsonian
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