Rago Auctions

Every diamond is unique and many factors contribute to the alluring quality of each gem. Diamonds come in various shapes and sizes, each exhibiting different internal characteristics. Sometimes, however, it is the absence of these characteristics that makes a stone particularly special.

In the 1950s the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) developed and standardized a way of communicating value factors about diamonds so that jewelry professionals would have a common vocabulary for describing them. This is known as the 4 C’s of diamond quality: clarity, color, cut, and carat weight. Each one of these factors contribute to the way we perceive the quality of a polished, finished diamond. For the purposes of the present lot, our focus is on the first two of these factors: clarity and color. 

During the diamond creation process billions of years ago, under great heat and pressure, carbon transformed into diamond at which time internal features called inclusions formed. Once polished and faceted, very few stones are without inclusions. The absence of inclusions equates to greater clarity and the GIA grading scale ranges from Flawless to Highly Included. Many jewelry professionals will never see a flawless diamond. Internally Flawless (IF) refers to a very rare type of diamond that exhibits no internal characteristics. Like other factors, rarity is linked to value. A diamond that is Internally Flawless or Flawless will have a higher value than an included stone. 

Color is another factor that affects the beauty and uniqueness of a diamond. Similar to clarity-affecting inclusions, other elements like nitrogen and boron can infiltrate the stone while it is being formed and give color to the diamond. This can often lead to wonderful results, such as boron causing a diamond to be blue, or a hint of nitrogen making the diamond appear yellowish. The GIA color grading scale for colorless diamonds is from D-Z. A stone with a D color grade exhibits the absence of any other color except pure white.

When D color and Internally Flawless clarity are present in tandem the diamond is truly something special, as is the case with the present lot, a stunning Harry Winston 1.25 carat diamond engagement ring.

In today’s diamond world, Harry Winston, Inc. is a household name. The firm was founded in 1932 by Harry Winston, a gifted gemologist, businessman, and philanthropist often called the “King of Diamonds” and “Jeweler to the Stars.” His passion for rare diamonds was unparalleled, and he built a brand that continually redefined the standards and expectations of high-end jewelry and watchmaking. For his designs, he allowed each diamond or gemstone to guide the process, stating “No two diamonds are alike”. 

Harry Winston had one of the most impressive historical diamond collections in the world (second to the British Royal Family according to Life magazine in 1952). Most notably, he acquired and then later donated, the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution, as a “gift to the world”. His patrons included actress Elizabeth Taylor, Jaqueline Kennedy, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The House of Harry Winston has retail salons worldwide, in Paris, Tokyo, and New York.