1932 - Retail, Trade

Retail, Trade

Harry Winston, Inc. is founded by New York-born diamond dealer Winston, 36, who quit school at age 15 to go into business with his father, who died 3 years ago; they opened a small store on St. Nicholas Avenue in 1914. The son served an apprenticeship at the New York Diamond Exchange, started Premier Diamond Co. with $2,000 in capital, obtained bank financing (he engaged a distinguished-looking older man to front for him after being mistaken by the bank for a messenger boy), and has developed a reputation for recognizing the potential value of estate jewelry; he will borrow money to buy collections that he will refurbish and resell (see 1960; Hope Diamond, 1958).