topic Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞 in Jewelry

Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

Star826 — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 01:23:11 GMT

It's been years since I posted on these Q forums & was pleasantly surprised to see it still exists!😊

Miss the great days (& nights) when Judith would sell her affordable & quality made items here on the Q & so much would sell out in the blink of an eye!

Once she retired I found her line here was no longer up to the standards she demanded & that we were accustomed to.

Then the line went to HSN where she'd make a quick appearance & it was not at all what we grew to expect like her Q line.

Now her other D-I-L Heidi is at the helm selling at JTV.

Also gone are the Ripka boutiques.🤷🏻‍♀️

I hope Judith is enjoying her much deserved retirement but boy, do I miss the days where we'd all chatter away before, during & after her Q shows!

And those NYC Ripkanista get togethers that Judith hosted!💙

Are any of the OG Ripkanistas still in this forum?

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

shoekitty — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 01:56:45 GMT

I think I miss Judith Ripka rings from the old QVC days more than I miss any other product on QVC. I bought my 4 granddaughters a gold gem ring each ...every year. They still enjoy them and ask for some more. But alas not to be found anywhere. I don't care for gold clad, and they are petite women and love the dantier rings. I dare anyone to try to find a dainty 14 carat yellow gold ring, with small gemstone that has allthe detail, ridging, detail that her rings had. I have looked all brick n mortar jewelry stores, online, and even Etsy. I miss her designs. I loved the larger pieces for myself. There is nothing on QVC that matches the quality, price and intricate design of her rings. JMHO

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

sunshine45 — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 02:21:04 GMT

i am still on these forums......and there are at least two ripkanista groups on facebook. i purchased ripka jewelry on qvc and from sams club when they had it.

i also stopped buying ripka pretty shortly after she retired, although i do find some great deals on facebook auction groups and also some good deals on ebay and etsy.

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

beach-mom — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 02:31:19 GMT

@Star826 - Judith and the Ripkanistas were something when I first "found" QVC.

I have a few pieces that I really like. I'm more southwestern style, and I was all over Carolyn Pollack and her beautiful pieces back then, but I did like some of Judith's pieces. I bought a pretty pink heart ring for DD when she started college. I told her it was a reminder that her mom's heart is always with her. She wore it a long time, even a few years after she finished, and I know she still has it.

I too miss reading about them and the forum. It was a lot of fun. I don't think anything has come close since.

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

roeroe1005 — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 02:57:12 GMT

@Star826

Hello Star!

I am one of the original Ripkanistas. I maybe one of the last ones standing.

I love my old Ripka, though I did just recently sell a necklace on Ebay. I also sold a JR necklace that I got at Saks Off Fifth on Poshmark.

I miss those days, always met 2 other Ripka girls at Grand Central and make our way to lunch and then visit JR's shop. One time we crashed Dennis Basso's shop on the walk over. I still have that photo on my phone.

I don't have JTV so I do not watch Heidi. I did purchase a pair of earrings from her first show. The post broke off the first time I wore them and back they went. Never purchased anything else.

I love the pieces I have, especially my earrings. When I worked full time, I wore a different pair of JR ears every day!

Hope all is well.

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

roeroe1005 — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 03:01:04 GMT

Oh Sunshine! Good to know that you are also still here.

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

Carol Diane — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 03:24:38 GMT

I have been buying Judith Ripka pieces for decades...from TV and also from her boutiques in NY and Atlantic City when they existed. Take a look at her pieces on JTV...some are beautiful and I enjoy watching her daughter-in-law Heidi.

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

FancyPhillyshopper — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 05:54:10 GMT

I do not consider myself a "Ripkanista," just a jewelry lover who appreciates great design, high quality construction, and pretty gemstones, all of which Judith brought to QVC.

I never bought any of her jewelry until she decided to use 14K gold. I appreciated the heavier-weight gold and the intricate construction. I do wish she would have used higher quality diamonds more often, but some of her pieces were really outstanding, a step above many of the other vendors on QVC.

I think QVC standards drove her to use natural gemstones more here, because I know at some of the B&M stores previously and now on JTV, many of her pieces feature synthetic stones. I will not purchase silver, which is all JTV sells.

Here is one of my favorite items (I only bought the ruby, but now I wish I bought the sapphire and emerald bracelet also!) :

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

newjerseygirl — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 10:06:33 GMT

@roeroe1005 @Star826 I am still here also. Miss those trips to NYC and the luncheons.

It was so much fun years ago when the Ripka shows were on and everyone was posting on the Forum about the new pieces.

Some of us "Ripkanistas" still meet up for lunch.

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

Jersey Born — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:59:18 GMT

I'm still here, @Star826. I miss those days of Judith on QVC, too. Many of her Q pieces were every bit as nice in design as the pieces in her higher end, JR2 line, even if they were missing 18k gold touches. Her necklaces and cuffs and rings were just incredibly detailed and classic. I miss Judith, too. She is such a lovely person and brilliant jewelry designer.

I also hope she is thoroughly enjoying her retirement, but I wonder what happens to all of her pent-up creativity? Does she feel the need to redecorate her home on a continual basis with new colors, new furniture styles, and new fabrics? Does she paint or sculpt in her free time? When you have a gift for creating beautiful things, as she does, it needs an outlet of some kind, I would think.

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

roeroe1005 — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 14:58:28 GMT

@newjerseygirl,

HI!! So great to "see" you! Miss you and the group!

I moved back to NY in October, so am hoping to start joining the group again for lunch.

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

chrystaltree — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 15:26:19 GMT

Well, time marches on. And I march right along with it. I have several Ripka rings from back in the day. Ripka is in Jtv now and they do sell some of her older designs from QVC days. I bought two pendants and earrings to coordinate with the Ripka pieces I bought long ago.

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

shoekitty — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:46:44 GMT

@FancyPhillyshopper Omg gorgeous bracelet. My granddaughter has a ruby ring similar design. I bet you wear it with love

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

Shanus — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 10:55:19 GMT

@Star826 I used to have lots of Ripka jewelry, but sold or donated all of it. It was a style I was no longer interested in wearing...most of it big and over the top.

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

shoekitty — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 23:19:16 GMT

I took a look over at JTV and all Ripka rings were 14k gold. CLAD. None were solid gold and went through several pages Why don't they make her pieces in real, solid gold? Even most of the silver looking rings is are rhodium clad, they didn't have solid silver. My jewelry lasts and can be handed down or sold because is real gold. Or silver. Nothing worse than really loving a piece of jewelry and wearing it a lot, then having it worn looking! Then what, ? Lol I don't like that other stuff, it gives off a phony gold color to me, and wears off. But I have been looking at eBay and Etsy. Used pieces are great too

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

Sammycat1 — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 03:14:05 GMT

@Star826

Count me in from the old days. Loved how we'd get together on this forum and banter like crazy when Judith was in the house, especially with her gemstone pieces!

Re: Where are the OG Ripkanistas? 🌞

Sakuya — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:44:42 GMT

I am here. I remember how fun it was when she had a show and we would all gather in the forum posting while watching. Sometimes my sides would hurt from laughing so hard. Good times.

I also miss posting during Barbara Bixby shows.