She may have left us more than six decades ago, but her legacy of glamour remains.
To mark Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday − June 1, 1926 − Swiss luxury watch Blancpain has unveiled the Ladybird Tribute, a capsule collection of seven unique pieces.
Directly reinterpreted from the jewellery watch once worn by the Hollywood icon and acquired by the Maison in 2016, there are seven watches in seven colours, representing seven letters - M. A. R. I. L. Y. N.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Marilyn wore a Blancpain.
Long before its existence became known to the public, Marilyn’s personal watch laid dormant in the shadows of her estate, nearly forgotten.
It resurfaced in 2016 at an auction organised by Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles, as part of the legacy tied to Lee Strasberg, the legendary Actors Studio director and custodian of a portion of Marilyn’s personal effects.
Blancpain decided to bring it back to the Manufacture in Le Brassus.
Revealed publicly for the first time in October 2019 in New York as part of the “Timeless Elegance” exhibition, the watch immediately captivated collectors and horological historians alike.
According to Blancpain, the watch is likely produced between the late 1940s and early 1950s, it belongs to the pure vocabulary of American art deco.
“Its extraordinarily elongated rectangular case evokes the vertical, architectural lines of the Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, and the Empire State Building.
“The setting follows the architecture of the case, accentuating that impression of taut verticality.”
Crafted in platinum 950, the original watch was set with 71 brilliant-cut diamonds and two marquise diamonds, extending to its hinged lugs.
The rectangular opaline dial features yellow gold applied hour markers and the Blancpain logo stretched vertically to match the piece’s exceptionally slender proportions.
The bracelet is secured by a double safety chain, a hallmark of jewellery cocktail watches of that era.
Inside is a FHF 59 movement, a miniature baguette calibre produced by the Fabrique d’Horlogerie de Fontainemelon from 1932 onward.
Measuring 3¾ lines by 9¼ lines − 0.85cm wide by 2.09cm long − it belonged to the generation of movements designed specifically for ultra-thin jewelry watches.
The movement bore a double signature: “Blancpain” engraved on the ratchet wheel and “Rayville Watch Co.” on the lever bridge.
Both signatures are characteristics of an era when the Manufacture operated under the Rayville-Blancpain name, guided by Betty Fiechter, the first woman to lead a major Swiss watchmaking house.
The story of this watch remains shrouded in mystery.
Marilyn was not known to purchase such pieces herself, and while theories abounded about the man who might have offered it to her, none has ever been confirmed.
One thing, however, remains certain: the most glamorous woman of her era wore a Blancpain.
And like her, this watch has never gone out of style.
Lady Tribute
The collection consists of seven interpretations of a legendary watch.
The new creation faithfully draws from the distinctive elements of the original watch: its opaline dial, yellow gold applied hour markers, conical hands and the geometric art deco setting that structures the rectangular case and its singular architectural silhouette.
Each unique piece bears one letter of the name Marilyn − M, A, R, I, L, Y, N − individually engraved on the caseback, transforming this capsule collection into a deeply personal tribute.
Each of the seven creations is mounted on a double-wrap calf strap, available in one of seven exclusive colours developed by Pantone to mark the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth and inspired by her visual universe.
Powered by the in-house Calibre 510 manual-winding movement − introduced in 2020, measuring just 2.60mm in thickness − the Ladybird Tribute beats at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vph).
It has 128 components, 23 jewels and a power reserve of 52 hours.
Marilyn’s original Blancpain beset with diamonds was recovered at an auction in 2016. — Photos: Blancpain
Marilyn Monroe left a legacy of glamour. — Photo: Milton H. Greene
Lady Tribute with black strap.
Another reiteration from Blancpain’s Lady Tribute collection.
A view of the caseback.
