Monroe's wedding band up for auction

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The diamond band screen siren Marilyn Monroe wore during her 1954 wedding to baseball great Joe DiMaggio is to be sold at auction in Los Angeles.

Auction house Profiles in History said Wednesday the platinum eternity band set with 35 baguette-cut diamonds will be part of its Icons of Hollywood auction, scheduled to take place Dec. 15-17. It is expected to fetch $300,000 to $500,000.

DiMaggio gave the ring to Monroe on their wedding day, Jan. 14, 1954, during an intimate civil ceremony at San Francisco City Hall. They divorced less than a year later. Monroe died in 1962 at the age of 36 and DiMaggio died in 1999 at the age of 84.

Also up for auction is an original painting by Earl Moran of a young, nude Marilyn Monroe from a modeling session circa 1948-1949, the auction house said.

The items join the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz," which are estimated at $2 million to $3 million.

Additional items are expected to be announced shortly, along with the location of the auction.