A costume-jewelry set consisting of a matching bracelet and earrings that was worn by Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is up for auction on eBay, with an asking of just over $415,000. Her most famous costume from the movie – a pink strapless dress with an over-the-top diamond choker and chunky diamond bracelets necklace – plays into the bombshell side of the persona. Her character, Lorelei, a showgirl who has no qualms about voicing her desire to marry into wealth, is aware that others may judge her to be something of an airhead because of her outward appearance – and plays into this stereotype when it serves her best interests in the moment. In the 1953 film, Marilyn dons the jewelry with a belted, navy-blue dress in a climactic scene in which she sways her fiancé’s wealthy father to give his blessing to the union. With that, it’s a fitting outfit for the iconic sequence in which Lorelei performs the number Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend. But, in the scene where she’s speaking to her lover’s father, the navy-blue dress and more toned-down costume accessories that are up for sale are more reflective of her inner business savvy as she makes her case to her future father-in-law. As she puts it at one point in the film: ‘I can be smart when it’s important.

Addressing the father’s not-unfounded concern that her main interest in his son is for his money, Lorelei quips in the scene: ‘Don’t you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty? This is far from the first pricey item to come up for sale related to Marilyn Monroe’s astronomically larger-than-life legacy. Among the lots successfully auctioned off included a silk polka-dot dress she wore in 1955’s The Seven Year Itch with a handwritten ‘M.Monroe’ label. Acting as Lorelei, Marilyn easily embodied the archetype of the footloose, good-hearted gold digger with an unabashedly insatiable appetite for orchids, champagne and especially precious stones. In reality, the actress, who died from a barbiturate overdose at age 36, had a much more complicated inner life than aesthetic stereotypes would have onlookers believe. The seller is Los Angeles-based Continental Coin & Jewelry Co., billed as one of the largest coin and jewelry sellers on the West Coast. Observing the photos, at least three of the blue gems in the necklace have been lost. The item of clothing sold for nearly $200,000. You wouldn’t marry a girl just because she’s pretty, but my goodness, doesn’t it help? But the description also discloses that some of the stones are missing. Elsewhere on eBay currently, a scale said to be owned by the movie star is listed for just under $30,000.

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How do you say it? As molten gold or silver is poured into the mold, the wax image melts and the metal takes its place. Most bracelets with natural, sustainable or recycled materials are handmade. Some artisans reclaim precious silver from photographic negatives. Even natural grasses lend themselves to a jeweler’s creativity while art glass beads and pendants can be made from discarded bottles. Colorful magazine pages can become tightly-rolled beads protected by a coat of varnish. Get them in 2-4 business days! The image is sculpted in wax and enveloped in a mold materia. Always creative, artists craft their bracelets out of innovative, eco-conscious materials. Women’s bracelets in gold and silver are usually crafted with the lost wax technique. Coconut shells, rattan and terra-cotta. Similarly, filigree jewelry is a meticulous handcrafted process. Leather bracelets with cutout motifs or embossing are usually crafted by hand.Thai jewelry by Karen silversmiths shows hand-stamped geometric or floral motifs and beads are usually made of fine silver, which is more malleable than sterling. Wood, bamboo and dried gourds. Color, texture, size and design all vary. Handmade women’s bracelets each have their own unique characteristics. Artisans the world over utilize the natural materials at their disposal to create beautiful, sustainable jewelry. Often, the technique alone will tell you, for example, hand-knotted, braided or woven bracelets. Traditional bracelet-making techniques have been passed down over generations around the world. Even some of the most sophisticated and modern gold and silver may be signed by the artist who made it.The most common indicator that a bracelet is handmade is the detailed and intricate design.

However coiling fine strands of metal results in Andean filigree jewelry. Artisans in different regions of the world take advantage of unique local resources, such as Brazilian golden grass, leather and coconut shell from Thailand, and carved bone jewelry from Bali. In West Africa, men’s jewelry honors the cow, where bone and horns are incorporated into unique pieces. Macrame and beading are popular everywhere for boho style. In Bali, silver, gold, bone, wood, brass, and stainless copper adorn handmade jewelry. Amber from the rich mines in southern Mexico adorns the women’s bracelets, necklaces, and earrings of the area. The hand-knotted bracelets of Guatemala symbolize friendship but evolved from a silent protest for loved ones missing during the country’s armed conflict. In Perus pre-Hispanic societies, gold represented the sun, and jewelry indicated social status and identity, as it also did among the Maya of Mexico and Central America. And West Africas handmade beadwork is renowned the world over. Balinese bracelets may also depict dragons, thought to be the protectors of the gods, or the Hindu Barong deity, also a protection symbol. In the Andes, sterling silver, leather, and combinations of natural stones are frequently used. And a few contemporary artisans even weave or crochet the slender silver strands.Jade was highly prized by the Maya and still has an important place in modern Guatemalan jewelry. Balinese artistry applies polished spirals and tendrils as well as tiny globes known as jawan to sleek silver jewelry. West Africa has a long tradition of beadwork, with beautiful beads made from recycled glass and even plastic becoming popular in recent years. Silver, gold, brass and copper have been popular for thousands of years and are often set with colorful gemstones. Intricate openwork carving, known as jali, can be seen in bangles from India. Motifs stamped into Karen hill tribe silver encourage living in harmony with nature. Today, friends each tie a bracelet on the others arm and make a wish. Traditional West African beads are a sign of cultural identity. In India, bangles or kangans showed a woman was married and are a part of the 16 adornments customarily worn by a Hindu bride. The bracelet is worn until it wears out and falls off so the wish will come true. In India, jewelry often depicts religious symbols and meditative mantras. Absolutely! Jewelry (prev) is an art form that allows makers to express their individuality and cultural influences, and certain designs are used to represent important symbols. Global artisans use all sorts of materials in their handcrafted jewelry for men.

For example, Central American artisans incorporate traditional figures, glyphs, and pre-Hispanic folklore. Yes! We offer a wide selection of earrings that are made from eco-friendly materials. In Bali, the Om symbol is prevalent, as well as the mythological panther-like Barong image, which is seen as a protector spirit. Earring designs include chakra gemstones, motifs of Lord Ganesha, and other spiritual imagery. Cow bone, water buffalo horn, fabric, recycled paper, wood, palm leaf and coconut shells, just to name a few. In Peru, powerful symbols, like the Andean chakana, are used to represent humanitys union with the cosmos. Indian artists are extremely tied to their faith and spirituality. Designs pulled from the natural world, like animal figures, feathers, plants, as well as stones, are used in almost every culture, which then infuses them with their own particular meanings. Product descriptions always list materials used, so be sure to read about each product to discover how artisans are working to ensure sustainability and environmental consciousness. There is no best when it comes to handmade earrings. In Mexico, the famous work of artists Angel Ortiz, Maria Belen Nilson, and Rosa Rojo highlight the beauty of Aztec, Mayan and Teotihuacan civilizations.