When Sparks Fly

Nayla Hayek, the CEO of Harry Winston, reflects on the house’s latest Winston with Love collection, a playful and spirited take on romance

- Amelia Yeo

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.