Friday 21 May 2010

Marilyn Monroe pearls to go on display

For one week only and in conjunction with the Bond Street Culture and Heritage Week, Mikimoto will be exhibiting Marilyn Monroe’s Mikimoto pearl necklace in its original oval, leather, velvet-lined box. In 1954 Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio travelled to Japan for their honeymoon, where Mikimoto presented Marilyn with an Akoya pearl necklace. The Mikimoto pearl necklace was one of the only pieces of fine jewellery Marilyn owned, as most of her jewellery was costume. Mikimoto was the first to develop a technique for the cultivation of pearls. Today, almost all pearls sold worldwide are cultured pearls. The family-run business remains a world leader in superior-quality Akoya and South Sea cultured pearls and the company is respected for its product design, crafting techniques and strict quality control. The Bond Street Culture and Heritage Week runs from 7-13 June 2010.