Marilyn Monroe's Personal Jewelry Collection Surprises Everyone!

The American Icon's Minimalist Jewelry Holdings Defy Common Expectations Marilyn Monroe, the legendary American actress, is often associated with glamorous fashion and exquisite jewelry. However, many might be surprised to learn that Monroe possessed only a modest collection of luxurious jewelry, in contrast to the opulent holdings of her contemporaries. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles in 1926, Monroe's life remains shrouded in mystery despite her immense fame. Her romantic relationships, multiple marriages, and untimely death at the age of 36 continue to fuel curiosity even today. Despite transitioning from a fashion model to one of the most famous actresses of her time, Monroe's personal jewelry collection was notably limited. Her three husbands gifted her only a few pieces, and she seldomly purchased jewelry for herself, often opting for imitation pieces. Marilyn Monroe's Personal Jewelry Collection: 1. Pearl Necklace: - When Monroe married baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, he presented her with a 16-inch strand of Akoya cultured pearls as a wedding gift during their 1954 honeymoon in Japan. Reports vary on whether the pearls were a gift from the Emperor of Japan to DiMaggio or if he purchased them from Mikimoto, featuring 44 pearls. 2. Blancpain Cocktail Watch: - Monroe's third husband, renowned playwright Arthur Miller, reportedly gifted her a platinum cocktail watch from Blancpain dating back to the 1930s. The watch, adorned with 71 round-cut white diamonds and two marquise-cut diamonds, drew inspiration from Art Deco. 3. Fake Diamonds: - Despite her love for jewelry, Monroe often wore outfits adorned with rhinestones and beads in her personal life and on television. Surprisingly, in the famous "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" scene from the movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953), she wore only fake diamonds. 4. Engagement Ring: - When Monroe married Joe DiMaggio in a San Francisco courthouse, he gifted her a platinum engagement ring set with 36 baguette-cut diamonds. Christie's auctioned the ring in 1999 for $772,000, despite one of its diamonds being missing. 5. Baroda Moon Diamond: - The "Baroda Moon," a remarkable diamond discovered in India between the 15th and 17th centuries, adorned Monroe during her promotional tour for "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." Rumors circulated that the diamond brought bad luck to its wearer. While the authenticity of some details remains uncertain, the yellow pear-shaped diamond weighing 24.04 carats remains the largest diamond ever worn by Marilyn Monroe.