On the afternoon of the Symphony Ball in May, actress Kelly Preston visited the House of Harry Winston at Ala Moana Center, hoping to find just the right accessories to wear to the formal event. A longtime admirer of the esteemed jeweler, she tried on several pieces, made her decision fairly quickly, and departed.
Preston returned to the salon that evening, beautifully attired in a fitted, champagne-colored gown with spaghetti straps. The staff completed her outfit by draping her in more than half a million dollars’ worth of dazzling diamonds, including a pair of Marquesa earrings.
Unveiled last November, Harry Winston’s Marquesa collection was inspired by the grace and delicate beauty of the butterfly. The exquisite 22-piece assortment includes marquise diamond rings, necklaces, pendants and earrings embellished with round brilliants and fancy shapes and set in gleaming platinum.
Over the years, Harry Winston has been associated with other notable marquise diamonds, including the 40.42-carat engagement ring that Aristotle Onassis gave to Jacqueline Kennedy. It was the third largest of 18 gems cut from a 601-carat rough diamond discovered by Ernestine Ramaboa in the mountains of Lesotho, South Africa in May 1967. Virtually penniless (save for what became known as the Lesotho Diamond), Ramaboa and her husband Petrus walked for four straight days, making brief stops only to eat and sleep, in order to get that remarkable stone to a reputable diamond market over 100 miles away in Maseru.
After an intense bidding war that involved buyers from around the world, Harry Winston acquired the Lesotho Diamond. The Ramaboas personally witnessed the initial cutting, which was broadcast live on American television in 1968.
Shopping at the House of Harry Winston is in itself an extraordinary experience. The Honolulu salon is 2,500 square feet of sheer elegance with marble accents, fresh floral arrangements, a plush loveseat and chairs, polished glass display cases, and two large picture windows through which natural light pours, showcasing the true colors and brilliance of its sumptuous wares. Enjoy champagne, espresso and cookies while you peruse the possibilities—in one of two private rooms if you prefer. With prior approval, the salon even can be closed for your own exclusive shopping spree.
Placed in handsome leather cases and festooned with ribbon, your purchases can be brought to your front door by a guard in a business suit. The salon’s sales associates also can accommodate special requests. For example, they recently coordinated the transport of a diamond ring to a posh Honolulu restaurant—a gift for the guest of honor at a surprise birthday party. For another client, they created a lavish Easter basket inside of which was tucked an engagement ring for his sweetheart.
“A gift of fine jewelry says ‘I’m thinking about you; you mean the world to me,’” says James Schaefer, spokesperson for the House of Harry Winston at Ala Moana Center. “It’s the ultimate expression of love.”
House of Harry Winston
Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
(808) 791-4000
www.harrywinston.com
