A kiss on the hand may be quite continental
but diamonds are a girl's best friend.

The lasting image of Marilyn Monroe singing "Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend" in the movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" have led many people to believe she would have had fabulous jewels.

But reality is that Marilyn owned mostly costume jewelry. Her private jewelry collection held only 2 valuable pieces of jewelry, a eternity ring and strand of pearls, both given to her by husband Joe DiMaggio.

 

Marylin did however help to promote diamond jewelry in her many appearances wearing jewels loaned to her by top jewelers. Here she is seen in a publicity photo shoot wearing The Moon of Baroda, a 24 carat, pear shaped yellow diamond.

She was also given an award at this time by the Jewelry Academy. It was presented to her by it's president, Sidney Brownstein. The award is a inscribed: To Marylin Monroe, the best friend a diamond ever had.

The ring Joe DiMaggio gave Marilyn after their 1954 wedding was a platinum and diamond eternity band set with 35 baguette-cut diamonds. It sold at auction for $772,500 (missing one stone) to an anonymous bidder.

Christie's recent sale of the Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe included the ring as well as the infamous glittering "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" gown. (Gotta Have It! Collectibles purchased the gown for $1,267,500)

 

The necklace DiMaggio gave his bride during their honeymoon in Japan, was a 16 inch strand of pearls containing 44 Mikimoto pearls.

Marilyn gave the necklace to Paula Strasberg. Paula's daughter Susan Strasberg returned it to Mikimoto in 1998.

 

Marilyn Monroe
the most fragile and lovable legend of all

Look magazine

 

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