Christie's to Sell 24ct. Marilyn Monroe Diamond

RAPAPORT... Christie's is set to auction a 24-carat diamond necklace thatMarilyn Monroe wore for the premiere of her 1953 movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.The fancy-yellow, VS2-clarity Moon of Baroda - which originated from the famous Galcondamine that also produced the Hope Diamond - is estimated at $500,000 to$750,000. Christie's will also auction an autographed photo of the actresswearing the stone, it said Wednesday. The picture carries a presale valuation of $10,000 to$15,000. The 24.04-carat stone was first documented in the 15thcentury as part of the collection of the Gaekwads of Baroda, the ruling familyof India. After disappearing for a few centuries, the piece turned up in the USin 1926, brought there by Prince Ramachandra, who then sold it. In the 1950s, the Moon of Baroda was acquired by MeyerRosenbaum, the president of Meyer Jewelry Company. Rosenbaum loaned it toMonroe for the opening of the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, in whichshe sings "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." In 1990, Christie's auctioned the diamond in New York for$297,000. It subsequently remained out of the public eye for more than twodecades. "After 28 years, it has once again reappeared atChristie's...only this time, the diamond has been classified as a historicaldiamond," the auction house said. Christie's will preview the Moon of Baroda in Los Angelesfrom October 16 to 20, auctioning it at its Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale onNovember 27. Main image: The 24.04-carat Moon of Baroda.(Christie's)Side image: Marilyn Monroe wearing the necklace. (Frank Powolny)