Marilyn Monroe's Pearls to be Exhibited

Jeweler Mikimoto has announced that it will be displaying the pearls once owned by Marilyn Monroe as part of The Bond Street Culture & Heritage Week June 7 to 13, Bond Street being a section of exclusive and high end shopping salons in London.

While legend tells that the Emperor of Japan gave Marilyn the pearls when she was on her honeymoon with Joe DiMaggio in 1954, Mikimoto actually claims to be the party that gifted her the necklace. The official Mikimoto press release:

Mikimoto exhibits Monroe’s pearls for The Bond Street Culture & Heritage Week

Pearl jeweller Mikimoto has announced that it will exhibit Marilyn Monroe’s Mikimoto pearl necklace as part of The Bond Street Culture & Heritage Week June 7 to 13.

The Japanese company presented the Akoya pearl necklace to the late film star on her 1954 honeymoon with then husband Joe DiMaggio. Monroe later gave the necklace to close friend Paula Strasberg, who then passed it onto her daughter Susan Strasberg following the screen icon’s death. The necklace is claimed to have been one of the only pieces of fine jewellery owned by Marilyn, who is reported to have worn mostly costume jewellery..

Mikimoto was founded by Kokichi Mikimoto in 1893 and led the way in the cultivation of Akoya and South Sea pearls.

Susan Strasberg sold the necklace in 1998, and the letter below about the necklace is in her own handwriting. It's dated June 29, 1998. Sadly, Strasberg died January 29 of the following year.