Ronald Winston Steps Down

Ronald Winston announced Monday his retirement from his executive role at the jeweler Harry Winston Inc., the company his father Harry founded in 1920. Winston has been appointed Honorary Chairman of the corporation.

With his departure, for the first time in 118 years, there will no longer be a Winston working in the venerable diamond house that bears the family name.

Ronald Winston joined the company in 1965, and under his leadership the firm expanded from two stores into a global company with jewelry sales in the Far East and a significant watch business based in Switzerland.

“It has been a thrill continuing my father's tradition and sharing the beauty of the finest gems for so many successful years," Winston said

Winston said in a release that his decision will allow him to focus on his extensive AIDS medical research, an upcoming book project and raising his young son.

The book is about the Winston's history, called "King of Diamonds." He is also active with The Institute for Human Genetics and Biochemistry, a private research foundation he founded thirty years ago. The Institute, which is affiliated with Mt. Sinai Medical Center and has its laboratory at Cabrini Medical Center, has made several breakthroughs towards a non-vaccine cure for AIDS.

The Harry Winston jewelry company was purchased by Aber in September 2006 after it bought a majority interest in April 2004. Since then Aber changed its name to Harry Winston Diamond Corporation.