Harry Winston [海瑞溫斯頓] | Ruby and Diamond Bracelet [紅寶石配鑽石手鏈]

Accompanied by an authenticity letter from Harry Winston dated March 5, 2020.

Accompanied by AGL report no. 1106185 dated January 22, 2020 stating that the rubies are of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating.

Born in Goa in 1917, Ambaji Shinde, the son of a bangle maker, began his journey into the world of design when he attended the JJ School of Arts in Mumbai. He began working for Narotthamdas Jhaveri, and the firm soon flourished to become the official court jewelers to some of the most prominent rulers including the Maharajas of Baroda, Porbandar and Dhar, as well as the Nizam of Hyderabad, once the wealthiest man in the world. When India gained independence in 1947, the age of Maharajas abruptly came to an end. As a result, many pieces of important jewels accumulated during their rule were dismantled, the gems dispersed, hidden, sold and reimagined.

Shinde was hired by Harry Winston in 1962 and it was during the four decades he spent there as the principal designer that he developed and perfected his gemstone-driven style, transforming high jewelry into fine art. Often referred to as the “jewel behind the jewel” at the firm, Shinde brought a new dimension and sensibility to Winston’s designs with his expert understanding of how stones could be assembled. In the course of his career, Shinde’s designs adorned countless Hollywood stars and society ladies including Liz Taylor, Sophia Loren, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna.

The present bracelet is a superb example of Shinde’s timeless style, illustrating his knowledge of stone-cutting and his exceptional sense of balancing proportion and scale. The way the graduated rubies are off-set against the rows of diamonds causes the gems to appear to dance and float, possessing a remarkably lithe flexibility, with only the slightest amount of the mounting visible.

Despite his remarkable reputation amongst the jewelry world, Shinde’s talents remain largely unknown outside the industry. Lot 90 presents an opportunity for today’s collectors and connoisseurs to acquire a wearable masterpiece and appreciate Shinde’s legacy.