Marilyn Monroe's Earrings Fetch $185,000

These earrings, once belonging to actress Marilyn Monroe, sold this month for $185,00 - and they aren't even diamonds!  Ironically, although Marilyn famously sang "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend, these beauties are rhinestones!

The earrings sold during the April 11-12 auction at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles.  The star wore the rhinestone earrings to the premiere of the Burt Lancaster and Anna Magnani film The Rose Tattoo in 1955 which she attended with husband and famous major league baseball player, Joe DiMaggio.  The clip-ons are composed of a single full-cut rhinestone and five strands of cascading baguette-cut rhinestones, all prong-set.

Of course, the price reflects the history associated with the earrings and not the jewels themselves.  Bidders in the auction room and around the world all vied for a piece of Hollywood history, like the imitation diamond earrings worn by Marilyn Monroe.  Other items from the iconic star included clothes and a hair curler.  There was even an invitation to John F. Kennedy's birthday party at New York's Madison Square Garden, where the actress famously sang for the president.

Martin Nolan of Julien's Auctions said fans buy memorabilia to feel a connection with the stars, “People are very sentimental.  If they can't get to meet the celebrity, the next best thing and the next easiest thing would be maybe to actually own something from the celebrity, be it from their life or from their career or just something from their home."