Harry Winston: Jewellery that tells New York's story

The New York Collection, by jewelery brand Harry Winston, is as much an ode to the city of Manhattan as it is a biographical homage to the brand's founder, expressed in rare gems.

When drafting the high jewellery collection – which tells the story of Harry Winston in nine chapters – the brand's design team left its studios in the 'Big Apple' to research local neighbourhoods, sights and landmarks.

The collection's story starts on the Upper West Side: it was here that Harry Winston was born and raised, and the sandstone-clad façade of his family's Brownstone townhouse has inspired the geometric motif of earrings and a pendant necklace set with diamonds, turquoises and sapphires.

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In 1932, Harry Winston first established his namesake business with offices opening onto St. Patrick’s Cathedral; today, the imposing Neo-Gothic edifice has found its match in a dramatic Cathedral necklace and matching earrings, both detailed with pear-shaped emeralds.

Harry Winston's Manhattan tour then leads us to Broadway (both H.W. and his wife Edna were keen theatregoers), before heading to Grand Central Station where the design team homed in on the landmark's clock-towers topped with cast-iron eagle sculptures, their spread wings now expressed in feathery gems set with colourless and fancy yellow diamonds.

Central Park Mosaic (seen above) – a pair of earrings, bracelet and ring set with emeralds, sapphires, diamonds and aquamarines – are a glittering nod to Manhattan's green oasis. Within walking distance of Central Park, 718 Fifth Avenue has been the address of Harry Winston's flagship since 1960.

New York by Harry Winston focusses on choice details found on-site, including the black and white marble detailing of the brand's atelier and a gilded bronze chandelier hung high in the salon. A suite of seven gold-plated cabinets that once displayed rare creations is namechecked with 718 Emerald Vitrine, a selection of diamond and Colombian emerald confections.

New York by Harry Winston Central Park Mosaic bracelet, £POA, harrywinston.com