Palm of Harry Winston displaying some of the gems in his collection including the Sapphire of Catherine the Great (next to thumb), the Hope Diamond (between index & middle), the Royal Spanish Emerald (green), the Idol's Eye (to left of emerald) the Jonker Diamond (center, square cut) the Star of the East diamond (tear shaped, bottom), a large ruby, & pair of 50-carat matched pear shaped diamonds. As the son of a jewelry store proprietor, Harry Winston knew the gems from the junk by the time he was school-age. His passion for diamonds and his sharp eye made him a natural in the world of fine jewelry, and he founded his own company in 1920. Eventually, as his fortune rose, his insurer Lloyd's of London barred him from being publicly photographed to protect their investment. Thus, the myth of the man himself grew, alongside the prominence of his namesake company. Winston was the first jeweler to leverage Hollywood stars" affinity for his creations in exchange for brand exposure and publicity, a common practice today. After his death in 1978, he left behind a prestigious jewelry empire, celebrated in the newly-released book Harry Winston. Here are ten of his pieces that shine brightest. Next Jonker Diamond