‘Moon of Baroda’ to go under the hammer

‘Moon of Baroda’, a 24.04-carat yellow diamond that captivated Indian and Hollywood royalty, will go under the hammer at a Christie’s auction in Hong Kong on Sunday.

Existence of the ‘Moon of Baroda’ was first documented in the 15th century among the vast collection of the Gaekwads of Baroda, princes of one of India’s most ancient and powerful ruling families - and one of the world’s richest at that time.

The stone vanished for a few centuries and emerged in 1926 as it was brought to the US by Prince Ramachandra.

It was later exhibited in Los Angeles during the Easter Fashion Festival in 1943.

After a few owners, the stone was acquired by Meyer Rosenbaum, president of Meyer Jewellery Company, one of the largest retail jewellers in Michigan, in the 1950s.

It was during Rosenbaum’s ownership that it received most publicity.

It was at this time that the gem came to be associated with Marilyn Monroe.

In 1953, the pear-shaped, ‘Moon of Baroda’ diamond was ready for its close-up at 20th Century Fox.

To promote the release of the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Monroe wore the ‘Moon of Baroda’ while singing the song, Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.

“After two decades in a private collection, the Moon of Baroda will again take centre stage as a highlight,” Christie’s on its website.