Harry Winston

Harry Winston was founded in New York in 1932 and has been owned by the Swatch Group since 2013. The London salon at 171 New Bond Street opened in 2006 and was renovated in 2016, with bridal on the ground floor. Swatch bought the building outright in 2023.

The house's selling point is a strict diamond standard. Engagement ring centre stones are limited to D, E and F colour and Flawless to VS2 clarity, set in platinum. In plain terms: no visible tint and no flaws you'll see without magnification. That narrows the choice, but it also means you won't be shown a lower-grade stone dressed up by the setting.

The signature design is the Classic Winston — a round centre stone with tapered baguette side stones, from 1 carat. Centre stones start at 1 carat across the range.

Prices are not published. Harry Winston's site says only "learn more about pricing", and you get a figure in the salon. That's the opposite of how we think you should buy: know the number before the conversation, not after.

Our view: the diamond standard is real and worth respecting. But a D-F, VS2-or-better GIA stone is a spec you can price anywhere. Book the salon appointment, ask for the GIA report number, and compare that exact spec on Hatton Garden before you decide. The difference is what you're paying for the name.