There are a total of 1,350 carats of premium rubies along with the addition of 50 carats of diamonds in the pair. When you get closer you can see that the combination of rubies and diamonds present a much more remarkable artistic creation which adheres to the principles of both form and function. Winston’s version of the famous and even iconic ruby slippers boasted the encrustment of 4,600 gemstones, which made his slippers much more opulent and glittery in the light. The original ruby slippers were breathtaking to behold, but upon closer inspection, the only embellishments upon them were lovely red sequins. A comparison of the Harry Winston Ruby Slippers and the originals These differences would set the Hary Winston edition part in some very grand and glorious ways.
In celebration of the event, Winston designed a new iteration of the original slippers that were worn during the filming of the movie, however there were some glaring differences between the two, although the aesthetics are remarkably similar at a glance. The idea for the creation of the Harry Winston Ruby Slippers was really Ronald’s. He was reminded by his son Ronald Winston, that 1989 was the 50th anniversary of the classic film “The Wizard of Oz. Harry Winston is one of the most famous jewelry designers in the world. The history of the Harry Winston Ruby Slippers It might be hard to wrap your head around how a remake could be worth more than the originals which were worn by Garland and appeared in the film, but a closer look and discussion about these magnificent designer slippers will help you to understand how their value has been determined and why they’re worth a small fortune. The recreation of the fantasy shoes from eras long past recently sold at auction for a whopping $3 million. The jeweler went to great lengths to be discreet.Ī man of many secrets, Winston had a tiny concealed private elevator in his office so he and his VIP clients could discreetly slip in and out without being noticed.Who could forget Dorothy and her magical ruby slippers from the classic film “ The Wizard of Oz.” The original pair that was worn by Judy Garland is a part of a private collection and still in pristine condition, but even the originals are not valued as highly as the remake of the famous shoes titled the Harry Winston Ruby Slippers. Few people saw his face until his portrait appeared in his 1978 New York Times obituary. Many could spot his jewelry-but few could recognize the man himself.īecause of an ironclad clause in his business insurance policy that forbade him from showing his face publicly, Harry Winston was only photographed in the shadows or from a distance. In 1952, Life magazine reported that after the Royal Court of England, Harry Winston’s collection of jewels was the second largest and most important in the world. His philosophy: "If you can't trust the United States mail, who can you trust?" His only true rival was the House of Windsor. Postal Service for 64 cents, and in 1958 he famously shipped the priceless 45.52-carat Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institute for $145.29. In 1935, he sent the legendary Jonker Diamond (726 carats) from London to New York via the U.S. The jeweler spent millions of dollars on diamonds but only pennies to ship them around the world.
Long before supporting the USPS became a national call to action, Winston was quite an advocate. Harry Winston’s beloved black cat named Kashmir was featured in the house’s 1940s ads wearing a huge pear-shaped diamond necklace. Sunset Boulevard // Getty Images He was an animal lover. Bancroft sports a gorgeous ring in The Graduate.