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