The Moon of Baroda diamond—famously worn by Maharajas and Marilyn Monroe—will be auctioned by Christie’s on 27 November. In 1953 it was donned by Monroe when she sang the iconic song, Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend whilst promoting the Howard Hawks film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). Iconic Hollywood royalty, Marilyn Monroe reportedly exclaimed: ‘It’s gorgeous!’ upon setting eyes on the stone—it was the largest diamond she ever wore in her lifetime. A rich history...
As part of their annual ICONS & IDOLS: HOLLYWOOD event, Julien’s Auctions will be selling the Ford Thunderbird that was owned by Marilyn Monroe. Estimated to fetch between $300,000-500,000, the 225 horsepower, V-8 engine car that Monroe owned from 1955 to 1962, will head to auction for the first time on 17 November 2018. Purchased under the name of Marilyn Monroe’s corporation, Marilyn Monroe Productions, the Raven Black Ford Thunderbird was thought to be a...
Proud Galleries will showcase a collection of rare Marilyn Monroe photographs taken by famed photographer, Milton H. Greene. This landmark display, which is set to grace London’s Proud Central from 11 May until 24 June, exhibits images that neatly encapsulate the glamour, charisma and charm that made Marilyn the icon she is remembered as today. Born in 1926 as Norma Jeane, the actress filmed her first movie when she was just 21. She would not...
“I never quite understood it, this sex symbol. I always thought symbols were those things you clash together! That’s the trouble, a sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate to be a thing. But if I’m going to be a symbol of something I’d rather have it sex than some other things they’ve got symbols of.”—Marilyn Monroe in an interview for Life, 1962 In the year that she would have turned 90, the De Nieuwe...
Christie’s give their own view as to why diamonds are, as Marilyn Monroe famously sang, a girl’s best friend. For a cool US$14 million, the famous Pink Perfect diamond awaits you. Diamonds have been known in India since time immemorial, and the subcontinent was the only source of diamonds until 1723 when they were found in Brazil, followed by South Africa in 1870. After World War II, diamonds went on to be discovered in Russia,...
Ireland’s latest troubles, austerity measures, new happiness/unhappiness measurements, and the relentless pursuit of a vintage celebrity, all help us on our way as we face the New Year. Austerity measures As an antidote to what has become known as the festive season, we continue with part two of our survey of unhappy people. In the last issue we regarded sympathetically the restaurateurs of France who were gesticulating dismally about the decline of the sociable long...
Fifty years after her death, Marilyn Monroe remains a luminescent movie star and legendary sex symbol. But who knew that she also had an enduring impact on the fashion world? No one could forget Marilyn’s pink satin Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend gown, the pleated white dress that billowed skyward in The Seven Year Itch, or the revealing nude sheath worn to sing Happy Birthday to President John F. Kennedy. But beyond creating timeless,...
