The pearls worn by one of the most famous blondes in history, Marilyn Monroe, are on display in Sydney. Boasting 44 Akoya cultured pearls, given to the Some Like It Hot starlet by her second husband Joe DiMaggio on their 1954 honeymoon in Japan.
It’s a string of pearls that stayed with Marilyn after the marriage had dissolved, with Monroe even choosing to wear the piece while finalising her divorce proceedings in court.
The ‘choker’ style display showcases the beautiful quality of the Japanese pearls, set in with an ornate clasp. ‘Akoya’ pearls are saltwater cultured pearls derived from the akoya oyster, with a classic round shape and beautiful lustre.
The pearl necklace was created by luxury Japanese jeweller Mikimoto. The founder of the brand, Kokichi Mikimoto, was actually the first person to successfully culture a semi-spherical pearl in 1893, leading to a majorly successful business as the first cultured pearl company.
The brand can only be purchased within Australia from jewellery retailer Kennedy, which holds pearl and diamond pieces from the brand ranging from $700 to $56,000.
Marilyn’s necklace was given to a friend when she passed and then purchased back by Mikimoto after a time. The necklace will be in Australia as a part of the launch of the brand in store at luxury boutique, Kennedy.
Teneille Oakley, Kennedy Merchandise General Manager said, Mikimoto reflected the level of luxury and individuality customers are looking for.
“No two pearls are the same, and some can take up to 10 years to develop. Matching pearls to form a strand is a remarkable process. When you see what goes into developing one piece of jewellery, you see how special pearls are and why they are so sought after,” she said.
“Every line of jewellery we sell at Kennedy is carefully considered, and our exclusive partnership with Mikimoto is something we are very excited about for our customers.”
It’s not just Marilyn who loved her Mikimoto pearls. Designer Marc Jacobs has shared posts about the brand and they were also spotted at the Oscars on the likes of Hilary Duff, Zooey Deschanel and Camila Cabello.
The “Marilyn necklace” will be on display at Kennedy’s Star Boutique at the Star Grand Hotel this weekend (April 1 to April 3, 2023) for the public to see.
