On the centennial of Marilyn Monroe’s birth, born on 1 June 1926, Blancpain introduced the Ladybird Tribute, a capsule collection of seven unique pieces inspired by the diamond-set cocktail watch once owned by the actress and acquired by the Maison in 2016.
The original timepiece, likely produced between the late 1940s and early 1950s, resurfaced in 2016 at auction in Los Angeles as part of the estate of Lee Strasberg, custodian of a portion of Marilyn Monroe’s personal belongings.
It was later exhibited publicly in 2019 at the “Timeless Elegance” exhibition in New York. Crafted in platinum 950 and set with 71 brilliant-cut diamonds and two marquise stones, the watch reflects the geometric vocabulary of American Art Deco, with an elongated rectangular case evoking the vertical architecture of mid-century New York landmarks.
A rectangular opaline dial, yellow gold applied hour markers and a vertically aligned Blancpain signature reinforce this architectural construction, while a double safety chain underscores its jewellery-watch typology.
Inside the original piece beats the FHF 59 baguette movement, measuring approximately 0.85 by 2.09 cm, part of a generation of ultra-thin calibres developed for jewellery watches from the early 1930s onwards.
Signed “Blancpain” on the ratchet wheel and “Rayville Watch Co.” on the lever bridge, it reflects the period in which the Manufacture operated under the Rayville-Blancpain name, under the direction of Betty Fiechter. For a deeper look into the Betty Fiechter era and beyond, see our feature article on the history of Blancpain.
The historical watch remains surrounded by unanswered questions, including its exact provenance and the circumstances under which it entered Marilyn Monroe’s possession. What remains documented is its presence within her personal collection, adding a further layer to its cultural and horological significance.
Marilyn Monroe portrait. Courtesy of Sam Shaw, Sam Shaw Inc.
The Ladybird Tribute reinterprets these codes through Blancpain’s contemporary Caliber 510, a manual-winding in-house movement introduced in 2020 and measuring 2.60 mm in thickness.
Operating at 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour), it is composed of 128 components and 23 jewels, delivering a power reserve of 52 hours. The movement is housed in a 35 x 16 mm 18K white gold case, 6.50 mm thick, fitted with a sapphire exhibition caseback and water-resistant to 30 metres.
Across the seven variations, the construction remains identical, while colour defines the distinction between each piece. Each watch corresponds to a letter of the name MARILYN, engraved on the caseback, and is paired with a dedicated strap colour developed exclusively for the collection.
The dial preserves the opaline finish and yellow gold applied markers of the original design, while 85 diamonds (1.360 carats in total) are distributed across the case, intermediate links, lugs and buckle.
The result is not a reissue but a reinterpretation of a single historical object through contemporary jewellery watchmaking.
The Ladybird Tribute is limited to seven unique pieces, each priced at CHF 41,000. blancpain.com
