JUDIE & EVELINDA: Jewelry and jobs
By JUDIE SCHWARTZ and EVELINDA URMAN – Scripps Howard News Service
Style Matters: We love jewelry and always have had a secret desire to work at a big time jewelry store. We decided to live vicariously through 25-year-old Jaime Miller, a girl who snagged a job at Harry Winston right out of college.
Harry Winston, the man who once said “People will stare. Make it worth their while,” is best known for once owning the notorious and supposedly cursed Hope diamond, the world’s most famous stone. Originally stolen from a statue of an Indian Hindu goddess, the diamond brought misfortune to all who owned it.
Winston bought the stone from Washington Socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean, and eventually donated it to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, where you can visit it today. His reputation as King of Diamonds was cemented when Marilyn Monroe, starring in “Gentlemen Prefer Blonds” uttered the line “Talk to me, Harry Winston” in the song “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.”
All this tradition and reputation was waiting for Miller when she moved to New York City after graduating from college. She stumbled upon an ad for an entry level position and was hired as an assistant in the jewelry giant’s retail division, handling non glamorous duties such as running credit cards. Rotating through various positions, Miller fell in love with public relations. She now coordinates photo shoots, product placement and jewelry loans to celebrities.
Miller couldn’t talk about current product placements, but told us that Winston gems have shown up on shows such as “Sex and the City” and “The Bachelor.” When it comes to loaning jewelry for award shows, Harry Winston gives priority to existing clients, then nominees and presenters. She has worked with Abigail Breslin, up for best supporting actress in the film “Little Miss Sunshine,” Joan Rivers, Kathy Bates and male celebrities such as Alan Arkin, who need cufflinks, tuxedo stud and watches.
Winston prices range from $4,000 to the multi-millions. What can you get for around $4,000? A pair of one carat diamond drop earrings, just what Breslin wore to the Golden Globes.
What makes Winston diamond jewelry so special? Miller said that Winston jewelry is known for minimal platinum settings that allow the light to come in from more angles to maximize the brilliance of the stones.
Does she get to wear the jewelry? It depends on the day and the event. But Miller confided that her engagement ring is from Henry Winston. Even though colored stones are very popular in the marketplace, Miller’s favorite stone is diamond. We asked her how women should begin to build their jewelry wardrobe. Miller’s answer came quickly: “Diamond studs are a must.”
If you can’t make it to your nearest Harry Winston, we will leave you with Miller’s advice on how to purchase jewelry: “Take your time, don’t buy just on instinct, know your jeweler.”
Style Matters: Right after jewelry, our next desire is great hair. Next week we interview an assistant at famed hair dresser Frederic Fekkai.
