A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND
One-of-a-kind Marilyn Monroe necklace dazzles in exclusive 2-day event at posh Post Oak jeweler
Although Marilyn Monroe famously sang that diamonds are a "girl's best friend" in the 1953 hit Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, her nicest and reportedly most sentimental piece of jewelry was a pearl necklace. Legendary baseball player Joe DiMaggio gifted her the necklace during their 10-day honeymoon in Japan, later saying it was "the happiest time" of their short marriage.
Monroe, who primarily wore costume jewelry, loved the necklace so much that she wore it to the Santa Monica, California courthouse along with white gloves and a black coat when she divorced DiMaggio just nine months later.
The famous 16-inch strand of cultured Akoya pearls will be on display at Zadok Jewelers in celebration of their new Mikimoto boutique-in-boutique concept. The new space will showcase high jewelry designs alongside an assortment of classic cultured pearl jewelry and new collections. The traveling High Jewelry collection consists of one-of-a-kind pieces that will be in Houston on November 8 and 9.
Each piece will be offered for sale, except for the Marilyn Monroe necklace, which after 80 years, is still in pristine condition – a testament to the quality of Mikimoto's pearls. Mikimoto was founded by Kokichi Mikimoto in 1893 and led the way in the cultivation of Akoya and South Sea pearls.
“In celebration of the new Mikimoto boutique at Zadok Jewelers, we’re honored to display for a limited time the very strand of Mikimoto pearls that baseball legend Joe DiMaggio gifted Marilyn Monroe,” Segev Zadock, partner at Zadok Jewelers tells CultureMap. “The Mikimoto boutique inside of our new store now allows us to showcase a broad selection of Mikimoto pearl jewelry.”
The necklace is available for viewing by appointment only on November 8 and 9. Those interested should visit Zadok Jewelers to schedule an appointment.