Jewelry

[Dallas-Dame]

On 4/4/2014 Sheesh said:

Judith will be 72 years old in August....maybe she wants to spend more time with her husband....she started her company in 1977...that's 37 years ago...I say more power to her and wish her the best of luck.

Nicely summarized, Sheesh!

[sometimesQVCaddict]

On 4/4/2014 lianne said: Her first years pieces were very substantial, she used real stones (even though they were blue topaz and garnets not expensive ones) and only accents of diamonique. Once she started becoming the premier designer, it became clad, lightweight tinny silver, doublets, triplets and full on diamonique. It makes me appreciate all my heavy early JR more. It will be even more downhill to brass ala RLM.

I can agree with this statement. I will state I am not a fan of JR but 'back in the day' could at least appreciate her as a designer, even if I didn't like her pieces. That was pre-diamonique, FYI! She USED to be what I would call a 'designer'. Ever since she started using fake stones, clad EVERYTHING, and mass marketing items by the thousands and having thousands of pieces which she doesn't even design the majority....now....not exactly a designer.....sure she's glad she got what she could get at this point! And I also agree her age is probably a factor as well...doesn't seem like the kiddos necessarily want to be in the business except to collect profits or residuals! lol

[ennui1]

On 4/4/2014 stevieb said:

On 4/4/2014 ennui1 said:

On 4/4/2014 stevieb said:

On 4/4/2014 terrier3 said:

On 4/4/2014 Favorite Son said:

Seriously, $120 million for that Skinny Girl stuff? I would have gone home and stayed there if I made that much.

That's about 5 times MORE than Judith is getting!

On the face of it, it doesn't seem like a whole lot of money, but I don't know, it seems to me she's essentially permitting her name to be 'licensed'. She's not so much offering up a product as an intellectual property.

I don't think she has anything to sell besides her name.

I don't know. I hear she's sitting on a gigantic Diamonique mine...

But ... but ... what happens if the mine is closed and we can't get any more ... !!

[judyakm]

On 4/4/2014 Oneanddone said:

I am happy I bought the pieces when I did.

Once a company is bought out, the products never seem the same as the original creator of the company designed them and intended them to be.

So, I'm done, but I wish Judith and her new company the best!

Some of us have been saying that the stuff they are putting out is less than and I would cal it "JR lite".......a lot of what Sam's club carries is a good example. What I liked about the outlets is that many of the offerings were made long ago, when the product was of substantial weight and real gemstones were still used!!!

[judyakm]

On 4/4/2014 ennui1 said:

On 4/4/2014 stevieb said:

On 4/4/2014 jackthebear said:

On 4/4/2014 Hoovermom said:

$22.5 million????

I don't think that is very much at all

what is the story there?

It sound like the essentially bought the name, not the inventory...

I think QVC owns the sterling inventory ... I wonder if they knew this deal was in the works. Now, THAT would be interesting!

I truly believe the rise in prices in the last year were pushing the envelope deliberately to prove that her brand was of value and the volume still sold was used to help negotiate the best deal for her...not that that is bad, that is BUSINESS!!!

[judyakm]

On 4/4/2014 Oneanddone said:

On 4/4/2014 Sooner said:

On 4/4/2014 chrystaltree said:

I think Ripka's "couture" reputation said "good bye" when she partnered with QVC and started hawking cubic zirconia. This is all business stuff, it won't affect the product at all.

I agree! A local high-end shop dropped her like a hot rock when she appeared on QVC. Any hint of "high-end" appeal left the building when you can go to Sam's and see a whole case of it. I suppose she will go back to her fine jewelry line now huh?

If that's what she decides to do, more power to her! I have couture and QVC pieces and the quality on both are excellent.

That being said, I have seen too many companies buying out successful companies and the quality going down.

So, as I stated in my previous post, I wish Judith the absolute best with her decision and I will always enjoy the pieces that I have.

She is an artist through and through, she has worked VERY hard in her life to get wear she is now, and I cannot tell you how much I applaud anyone who works hard and achieves the success she has.

She had a vision and she went for it.

Thankfully she did, because I love wearing her creations.

I don't wear any jewelry but Ripka.

You know when you find your style?

I found mine in her jewelry.

I absolutely and totally agree with every word oneanddone!!! She is my addiction and I rarely wear anything else. I am thrilled with my collection of mostly pieces produced early in her career, with real diamonds and gems. and even some that are very tastefully done with diamonique...PIA for example!!!

[panz]

I'm reading all the posts and only thinking that whatever the deal - however much money she'll make - somehow Judith not owning the "brand" and/or the company changes things.

Over the years I've loved watching the shows, and with each purchase, it felt personal - as though I was buying the piece from Judith herself.

She sold the company - it's not hers anymore. It's just not the same.

[BlingQueen022]

Fabulous!!!! Maybe the prices will be lowered.

[BlingQueen022]

On 4/4/2014 chrystaltree said:

I think Ripka's "couture" reputation said "good bye" when she partnered with QVC and started hawking cubic zirconia. This is all business stuff, it won't affect the product at all.

Well said!! A couture designer, at least a good one would never have gone to a shopping channel or Sam's club. That's like having Prada, Burberry, Hermes, etc selling their bags at Walmart.

[Favorite Son]

On 4/5/2014 panz said:

I'm reading all the posts and only thinking that whatever the deal - however much money she'll make - somehow Judith not owning the "brand" and/or the company changes things.

Over the years I've loved watching the shows, and with each purchase, it felt personal - as though I was buying the piece from Judith herself.

She sold the company - it's not hers anymore. It's just not the same.

Perfectly said.