This famous 1953 portrait of Marilyn Monroe, captured by photographer Frank Powolny during the publicity campaign for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, showcases the star wearing one of the most extraordinary diamonds ever associated with Hollywood glamour—the legendary Moon of Baroda. Framed by her signature platinum-blonde curls, luminous complexion, and captivating smile, Monroe wears the remarkable 24.04-carat pear-shaped yellow diamond suspended from a simple black cord, a strikingly modern presentation that allows the historic gem to command full attention. Originating centuries earlier in India’s famed Golconda mines—the Moon of Baroda passed through royal hands, including those of the Maharajas of Baroda and, according to tradition, Maria Theresa of Austria, acquiring along the way a reputation for mystery and misfortune. By the early 1950s, the diamond had arrived in America, where jeweler Meyer Rosenbaum famously loaned it to Monroe as part of the film’s promotional tour. The resulting images became iconic, uniting Hollywood’s brightest star with one of history’s most storied gemstones in a portrait that remains a dazzling symbol of cinema, beauty, and enduring legend. Color by Hollywood Pinups.
