A collection of more than 40 natural coloured diamonds, assembled by Ronald Winston over a period of 60 years, is now on public display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Known as the Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection, the exhibition features a range of rare stones, with the 2.33-carat “Winston Red” diamond as its centrepiece.
The collection is now housed in the museum’s Winston Gallery, part of the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals. The gallery shares its name with Ronald Winston’s father, jeweller Harry Winston.
Addition to the Smithsonian’s Gem Holdings
The collection joins the Smithsonian’s gem and mineral holdings, which include the Hope Diamond, donated by Harry Winston in 1958.
The donation reflects Ronald Winston’s long-term focus on acquiring natural fancy colour diamonds, a segment that has attracted growing attention from collectors and gemmologists.
The standout among the collection is the “Winston Red”, a 2.33-carat old mine brilliant-cut diamond. It has been graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as fancy red—a rare hue within natural diamonds. According to GIA data, red diamonds of this size and grade are extremely uncommon.
“The red diamond is the highlight of my career, and I have never seen anything else like it,” Ronald Winston said in a statement issued at the time of the donation’s announcement. “This donation to the museum represents my life’s achievements in this domain, and I am so happy to share this collection with the [Smithsonian] Institution and the museum’s visitors.”
Relevance to the Trade
The exhibition reflects sustained public and institutional interest in natural coloured diamonds, especially rare examples.
Public exhibitions of high-value coloured diamonds may contribute to increased consumer recognition of this segment.
The inclusion of the “Winston Red” provides an opportunity for gem professionals and researchers to study a rare example of a fancy red diamond. Additional details on its properties and classification are expected to appear in the Spring 2025 issue of Gems & Gemology, the Gemological Institute of America’s quarterly journal.
Exhibition Details
The Winston Fancy Color Diamond Collection is available to view during regular museum hours—daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding 25 December. Admission to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is free.
