Barbie and Bratz dolls are always striving to outfight each other in their marketing war, but Barbie has made a big advance on the accessories front.

Beverly Hills-based jeweler Alan Friedman has begun selling what’s called Barbie Rocks, which is the first high-end jewelry line inspired by Mattel Inc.’s global icon, and features classic and hip baubles for up to $15,000 for women of all ages.

The line, designed by Friedman’s wife, Layna, was launched last month. While Barbie images are prevalent in costume jewelry, this is the first Barbie collection to enter the upscale jewelry market.

The Friedmans landed the deal with Mattel in December 2006 when their pink diamond-studded, white-gold pendant showing the shape of Barbie’s distinctive profile sparked a bidding frenzy at the company’s charity action.

When the jeweled silhouette sold for $11,000, a light bulb lit up.

“It struck me, why not make Barbie pieces all year round?” Layna Friedman said. “Why not make different versions to bridge all the mothers and daughters out there who share Barbie experiences?”

The licensing deal allows the Friedmans to create jewelry with Barbie images. The partnership is donating 4 percent of sales to the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, which was founded by an HIV-positive Mattel executive.

Mattel executives had already known of Alan Friedman’s renown as the “king of pink.” He got the nickname a few years back when he introduced the pink diamond to L.A.’s jet-setting glitterati and became known for hipness in the jewelry biz.

“Layna and Alan Friedman have unparalleled experience within this specific category of luxury jewelry,” said Lauren Dougherty, who heads public relations in Mattel’s El Segundo headquarters.

Alan Friedman, a third-generation jeweler, is the son of the late Ike Friedman, who owned Borsheim’s Fine Jewelry until 1989 when Warren Buffett purchased the majority of Borsheim’s stock and made it part of Berkshire Hathaway.

Pieces in the Barbie selection start at $185. They come in sterling silver or white, yellow and rose gold, and they include such styles as casual pendants, 30-carat stone necklaces, dog tags, rings and bracelets.

Barbie Rocks jewelry made its way down the red carpet at this year’s Academy Awards. US Weekly recently reported Janet Jackson and Carmen Electra are fans of the collection.

Deals to bring the line into national and international department stores are “past negotiations and about to close,” Layna Friedman said.