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There is a question that I get asked all the time.  Why did Joan start the Classics Collection on QVC?  I thought it would be best to answer the question in Joan’s own words:

Let me tell you a story:  When I started working on “The Joan Rivers Show,” an Emmy award-winning costume designer named David Dangle came in to discuss wardrobe designs. For the meeting he brought in some jewelry, including a necklace. It was nothing extravagant, just an attractive piece of costume jewelry, a choker that he thought might work with a certain suit. I took it in my hand and turned it over to see the price tag… it cost $1,750! I was so shocked I almost dropped it on the floor. “Who,” I blurted out, “has $1,750 to spend on a piece of costume jewelry?!” There was no answer to that question. I thought the whole point of costume jewelry was to have the fun of dressing like a wealthy woman with virtually none of the worry or expense. I was so outraged by that one price tag that it got me wondering:  Does well-made costume have to be pricey? Isn’t there some way, without taking a second mortgage on her home, that a woman can own beautiful jewelry to wear, cherish, and pass along?

-from JEWELRY BY JOAN RIVERS

Joan wrote that over 20 years ago. Thousands of designs later, and a lifetime of friendship working with passion on something we both loved, it continues to ring true.

At the very beginning we were true novices.  We ran the business off of a coffee table in Joan’s dressing room at CBS. How we got a single piece of jewelry made is beyond me.

Our coffee table business didn’t last long!  The very first collection we did for QVC sold out immediately.  Very soon after that we put together a team and, before we knew it, had offices across the street from Van Cleef & Arpel in NYC.  (Joan and I always loved the notion of that!!) 

Here we are in front of Van Cleef & Arpel in NYC

Joan and I shared a true love of design and the history of jewelry… from Egyptian, to Russian, to the retro style of the 1940’s, to ultra-modern… we loved it all.

Joan was a world-class collector of Fabergé, a collection that has been exhibited in museums around the world.  In 1992 we spent a week in St. Petersburg as special guests of the Hermitage Museum and were given access to collections never before seen by the public.

Pictures I took of Joan in the private storage rooms of the Hermitage Museum. 

It was the thrill of a lifetime to actually hold these priceless objects in our hands (We laughed at the thought of filling our pockets and running for the exit.  We came to our senses when we noticed all of the armed guards.) From this visit came wonderful collections of miniature eggs, jeweled boxes, etc.

We were always inspired by so many things: Russia, Fabergé, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, fabulous jewelry collections at Christies and Sotheby’s auctions, etc., but we certainly were not snobs.  Joan couldn’t pass a card table on the streets of New York or a flea market at a strip mall without stopping to look for inspiration. 

Years ago at the Vicenza Oro international jewelry show in Venice… and in our office last year

It’s with enormous pride that we continue the collection with the same passion that Joan brought to QVC 25 years ago. 

We will have another very special all jewelry hour on August 17th with my very dear friend Jill Bauer.  So many exciting new things, including the debut of CINER for Joan Rivers, our exciting collaboration with the hundred-year-old family-owned Ciner Jewelry company.  They are the oldest (and I think the best) fashion jewelry manufacturer in America. 

Ciner for Joan Rivers! J321555- Estate Style Simulated Pearl 23” Necklace with 3” Extender 

And a brand new gorgeous dragonfly pin in honor of our 25th Anniversary. (Item Number J321595 - will be available on 8/17)

J321595- Shimmering Crystal Dragonfly Pin –with our 25th Anniversary hallmark on the back.

I hope you can join me for this very special event at 3pm on August 17th!

PS – If you would like to share pictures of your favorite pieces from the Joan Rivers Classics Collection, please tag them #Joan25 on our Facebook or Instagram page. I look forward to seeing them! 

OUR UPCOMING APPEARANCES:

August 17th

4-6am   Joan Rivers Classics Collection

3-4pm   Joan Rivers Classics Collection—ALL JEWELRY HOUR!

August 18th

8-10pm   Joan Rivers Classics Collection QVC Plus

Follow Joan’s FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/joanrivers

Or INSTAGRAM at www.instagram.com/joanrivers

Or our NEW CLASSICS COLLECTION INSTAGRAM http://instagram.com/joanriversclassicscollection

Follow David on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/daviddangleqvc

Or on INSTAGRAM at www.instagram.com/daviddangle

Or on QVC TRENDING at http://qvc.co/DDprofile

www.joanrivers.com