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After my last QVC show, I was “Back in the USSR” as the Beatles sang, or more properly today, the Russia Federation. Ron and I traveled to Moscow for the Press Party and Gala for the opening of my new and larger shop, since after three years of selling my jewelry in Moscow and growing the brand we needed more space.

So before I turn to my upcoming December shows and new goodies for you, let me share some of my Moscow moments.

First some facts – Moscow was founded in the early 13th century and considers itself the third Rome behind the Eternal City and Constantinople. Like Rome, it was built upon 7 hills. It is the largest city in the world in area.

From the airport to the hotel, a two hour bumper to bumper car trip we discovered one of the biggest frustrations about Moscow, its traffic. In city center it can take an hour and a half to go a mile. After resting up from the flight, we headed to dinner at Café Pushkin, to meet with our Moscow team.

Café Pushkin lit up for Holiday.

We left the Hotel at 6:30pm during rush hour and arrived at the restaurant at 8:00pm. After dinner, it took us 7 minutes to return to the Hotel. That is Moscow. Between 10am and 10pm traffic is crazy and everyone runs late, very late. We sampled some amazing traditional Russian dishes at dinner and bonded with our team over several bottles of Russian Standard Vodka.

Inside Café Pushkin

I am not a drinker, but, hey, when in Moscow….After downing a few drinks we felt more like a family than co-workers. Our Moscow staff are all university graduates, stylish, fluent in English and represent my brand extremely well. They are the reason that Judith Ripka has become the top selling American Jewelry brand in Moscow. Meet Roza, Director of International Sales, who runs the Russia operation.

Roza

Katya, who handles PR for me throughout the Russia Federation

Katya

Olga, the store manager modeling the oasis earring, one of our best sellers in Moscow

Olga

And Janna, our Assistant Buyer and Merchandiser

Janna

The following morning Roza and I took a tour of the fashion shops.

Roza and I walking the stores

In every city I visit, the first thing I always do is walk the stores, especially the jewelry stores to see what is popular, understand the merchandising for the Moscow customer, learn what is trending, all to inform myself what to design for that customer. Our walking tour took us to the upscale shopping area where brands such as Ralph Lauren , Tom Ford, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Gucci amongst others had stores.

Then we visited the two main department stores GUM, the oldest and most traditional

GUM Department Store

And TSUM, the newest, largest and most fashion forward

TSUM Department Store

Inside Tsum

I loved this piece in Tsum.

What surprised me most on this tour were all the Christmas decorations and trees everywhere including Red Square.

Christmas Display at GUM

Christmas Tree in Harry Winston

Christmas Tree in Red Square

It was really cold. Even Roza, a Moscovite by birth, acknowledged how cold it was but knew how to dress for it.  

I learned that the Russians celebrate Christmas. Santa arrives in Moscowon December 31^st.

It took us 9 hours to fly from New York to Moscow; it  apparently takes Reindeer seven days. I also discovered that the Russians celebrate a New New Year (January 1) and the old New Year (January 7 based on the Gregorian calendar). The period from January 1 and January 7 is their biggest shopping period.

After shopping in the morning, we lunched at the Vogue Café where I was introduced to buck thorn berry tea from Eastern Russia which is claimed to have medicinal and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also delicious. The Café was very chic with the walls adored with model shots from Vogue Magazine.

From lunch, we did some sight seeing. Unlike my trip to St. Petersburgin July, which was 90% play and 10% work, this trip was 90% work. The afternoon was my only chance to see the usual tourist places. Roza took Ron and me to Red Square where we visited St. Basil’s Church, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, The "Big Ben" of the Kremlin, and Lenin's Tomb.

Roza in Red Square

The Tomb of the unknown solider

The Cossack Guard at the Tomb. He does not move a muscle for his 8 hour shift and it was cold!

They were building this giant Louis Vuitton luggage piece in Red Square but nobody seemed to know what it was for.

The “Big Ben” of the Kremlin

St. Basil’s Church

Lenin’s Tomb

The Red Soviet Star, which weighs a ton and rotates in the wind, at the Kremlin

My favorite spot was the Museum, which is called the State Department of Treasures in Russia, which housed the Crown Jewels in the Kremlin.

It was heavily guarded. We had to pass through metal detectors and had our cameras and cell phones confiscated and returned when we exited. The jewels and gems were incredible. I took notes though and made sketches. One showcase held 30,000 carats of rough diamonds from the Ural Mountains. Another had 900 extraordinary large natural uncut diamonds. The largest of them had names: “Free Russia” (241.8 carats); “The Star of Yakut” (232 carats); “The Creator” (298.4 carats); “The Alexander Pushkin” (320.7 carats) and the largest of all “The 26th Congress of the Communist Party” (342.57 carats). A third case displayed the “Russian Beauty” Tiara which had 1000 large diamonds and 25 cultured pearls and the “Russian Field” Tiara which was centered on a magnificent yellow diamond of 35.5 carats surrounded by breathtaking white diamonds. There is so much more but time, space and memory are limited.

That night we dined sat Baccarat, one of the most elegant and romantic restaurants in which I have ever dined. The crystal and chandelier were exquisite and the furniture was designed by Philippe Starck.

The Kitchen at Baccarat

Crystal Chandelier at Baccarat

Inside the Restaurant

Even the china was extraordinary as the photographs show.

China. It was almost too beautiful to eat on.

My last day was all press interviews and photo shoots leading up to the evening Gala.

Press interview with Harper’s Bazaar

Photo Shoot

Press Interview with Vogue

Katya and Roza discussing logistics for the Gala opening

Getting my store ready for the Gala

It was hard work all day but also fun to share my story and inspiration with the editors, from the local newspapers and fashion magazines including Vogue and Harper-Bazaar and Tatler amongst others who would in turn share it with their readers. We started early and finished at 4:30pm, just in time to race back to the Hotel, close my eyes for 30 minutes, and then get dressed for the Opening Night Gala.

Admiring my cuff

Me and the granddaughter of the first person to the North Pole or so the Russian’s claim.

It was a glorious night meeting some of Moscow’s most accomplished women – including Alika Smekhova, Russia’s leading actress who starred in the Russian Sex and the City television series,

Alika and me.

Maria wearing my Lapis earrings.

Maria Bogdanova, a ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet, Yana Rudkovskaya, the most influential Music promoter and wife of Olympic Gold Medal winning figure skater Yevgeny Blushenko.

Yana and me

And Alla Verba, Russia’s equivalent of Anne Wintour

Alla Verba

The Moscow team presented me with a book on the Crown Jewels; the cover is the Russian Field Tiara with the yellow diamond center I described.

After the Gala we all went for midnight cocktails in the Observatory Lounge overlooking Moscow where we said our goodbyes and thanked our Russian team for such a wonderful time.

We left early the next morning for home. As soon as I stepped on the plane, one of my flight attendants came up to me showing off her Judith Ripka QVC earrings and “The Cuff,” which brings me back to my December shows, a TSV, and some new special treats I have saved for these end of the year shows.

Flight Attendant from the flight home

My first new offering to you is the TSV. It is a watch. But a watch with many options. The first option is color. It comes in silver, chocolate and black and each color comes with three additional interchangeable straps besides its metal band. Mix and match to go from playful to elegant.

The watches, like most of my other watches, are stainless steel with ionic plating in your color choice and a Swiss parts movement. This one has my favored deployment clasp for that luxury touch.

I previewed it at the holiday party in my store and from the reaction I received from the Ripkanistas, I am pretty sure that you will love it. The item number is J288035 at $229 and $239 for the black spinel.

To complement this offer I will be presenting my first ever watch box, H202070, a solid wood and wood veneer construction, glass window top, fabric lining, with space for eight watches and a pull out draw for additional storage. It comes with a key to lock the watch compartment. Finally, after a year of your asking and my promising, it has arrived!

Lastly, but not least, I am introducing 4 new pieces of a brand new collection, which I designed in collaboration with Swarovski. It is my first collaboration with another designer and it is exciting. Swarovski, the premier producer of precision cut stones, has created a trademarked Judith Ripka Double Brilliant Diamonique Stone with 118 facets for a unique and exceptional brilliance and sparkle.

This is 18 more facets than the 100 facet stone I have been using. Every stone has my name inscribed on the table as it has been made solely and specially for me. Thank you Swarovski. I have taken these brilliant stones and set them in unique Ripkarized settings as rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and more. There will be four offerings for these shows, J288489, J288481, J288605, and J288606 which start from $79 and go up to $859.

I will feature some more of this collection on my December 17th show and keep them coming next year because it is such a very special happening when a new stone cut is created by the world’s best and given to me for my exclusive use.

Please tune in on December 5th 11pm-midnight, and on December 6th midnight-2am, 3-5am, 9-11am, 3-5pm and 7-9pm. You just have to wait to see it all.

Love always,

Judith