She reflects on the house’s latest collection, a playful and spirited take on romance
Some of history’s greatest romances are captured in artistic masterpieces. Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss, for example, features a couple locked in a passionate embrace, kneeling on a bed of wild flowers. Rendered in gold leaf, silver and platinum, the artwork invites viewers to witness a moment of intimacy—as if intruding in a private moment—that remains suspended on canvas. Then there were the bittersweet yet powerful performances by Marina Abramović in The Artist is Present at the Museum of Modern Art in 2010, featuring a poignant appearance by her former partner Ulay. Their encounter revealed a silent yet weighted exchange that showcased aspects of the good, the arduous and the heartbreak of their relationship.
The artistic expression of love is an evocative one, its myriad emotions articulated in various forms, from the written word to brushstrokes and, most recently, with precious gemstones through the artistic lens of Harry Winston. Recognising the intensity and passion of great romances, the American jeweller captures the evolution of quintessential love stories in its new collection, Winston with Love, which features 39 pieces categorised into four distinct chapters: L for Winston Light, O for Winston Obsession, V for Winston Vow and E for Winston Eternal.
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Harry Winston’s CEO Nayla Hayek likens her experience with love to a diamond: “Much like a diamond, love’s brilliance is infinite and, for me, cannot be limited to a handful of moments. While it is an incredibly powerful emotion, it is also one that is deeply personal and sentimental. How we choose to express love is also very individualised. What I will share though is that love is at the heart of everything I do—it is all encompassing. From my family, to my work, to my community and personal passions, it is the feeling that inspires and carries me through each and every day.”
When asked about the inspiration behind the collection, she shares: “For the Winston with Love collection, we wanted to capture the deep emotions associated with the various phases and progressions of love. Love is an incredibly personal and individualised feeling and one that at times can be hard to express. With that in mind, we wanted the jewels within the collection to speak for themselves and to evoke the emotion they were intended to represent. We achieved this through highly skilled gemstone setting techniques, unique coloured stone pairings and symbolic design motifs."
