Monet started life as Monocraft in 1927 or 1929 (depending on which reference book you read) founded by Jay & Michael Chernow in Rhode Island, the costume jewellery business took off in 1937. During the 1980s Monet produced jewellery for Yves Saint Laurent.

The giant tree in Trafalgar Square London is a present from the City of Oslo, Norway as a token of their appreciation for the support of the British for the Norwegian resistance during the Second World War.