Jewelry

[Haca]

Hi PEACH, thank you for your very thoughtful response. You gave me a lot to ponder regarding the country link necklace chain. I do have a pretty chain necklace from CP but it is a bit too fragile to hang some of my substantial enhancers on. I also own the "native beads" but sometimes you don't want to go the Southwest route. In addition to leather cords, the country link would be a nice option. Plus, as I said, I would probably like it on its own with t-shirts. I agree it will be nice during the warm weather, which finally is on its way here in Virginia.

Thanks again and I do hope everything works out for the best for you and the other Judith Ripka fans and collectors. It is good to have variety and quality in jewelry lines.

[donnaluby]

Hi LuckyPeach - your new onyx earrings and dmq w/pearl drop earrings sound lovely. Hope you enjoy your new pieces in good health. Was also very surprised to hear about JR being sold but hope we continue to enjoy seeing her on on the Q.

Here are review of items that I purchased.

J284720 - Sterling Amazonite & Dmq Earrings. These have to be one of my new favorites. The amazonite is a bezel set cabochon stone and the gorgeous color is somewhere between turquoise and aqua. The earrings measure 1-1/2" in length and 3/4" wide and they have a lot of movement. There's a large oval with JRs berge texture and dmq stones all around. The smaller inside oval is surrounded by little dmq stones. These earrings are made beautifully and they sparkle like crazy. I wear it a 36" long amazonite bead necklace that I made. Goes nice with blue-green turq. as well.

My next purchase was from JR's website under the "outlet" site when they had a 60% off sale. I got a pair of square cabochon green sapphire earrings. They have her berge texturing around the setting with 4 tiny hearts with white sapphires. These are also a perfect size for me -- 1/4" and the color is a deep green. They go with a lot of my green Ripka that I have.

J275718 - Sterling Faceted Turquoise Enhancer. I like the enhancer and the beautiful ripkarized design, however, I think this enhancer is too small for my liking. I have a couple of Judith's turq. heart enhancers that have a larger presence so I will be returning this one.

Peach - have a wonderful weekend!

[oceanviewTL]

Hi, Peach -

Monaco watch: I bought the brown version and it is a beauty!

My only concern is the usual for those of us with tiny wrists - it's loose even on the tightest hole and the strap wraps all the way around to the top (not a good look). I was torn, and then saw that the brown version of the last watch (the one with 3 straps) is now available again. I ordered that, since I have and love the black Spinel version and will return the Monaco watch, even though it is gorgeous.

Lesson - I have to have the willpower not to order any watches unless they come in size small and have removable links!

New bracelet with the evil eyes - small and delicate, but beautifully designed, flawless and a keeper.

Braided cuff with amethyst end caps - expensive but worth it. Elegant design, beautiful piece. My only critique is that the stones look better, or more noticeable, from the perspective of the faceted side, and those sides of both stones face each other (not the top of the bracelet). Because of that, the stones do not appear as large as they really are. That is very different from my other JR "upside down" cuffs with stones (malachite, onyx, aquamarine). With my tiny wrists, I generally squeeze the ends closer together for a better fit, which in this case makes the stones even less noticeable. That said, I still love the bracelet, so will probably keep it.

[LuckyPeach]

Haca, thank-you. Did you go with Judith's Country link?

DonnaLuby, I have to tell you, you really have me thinking about those Amazonite earrings!

Have been out for the last week with the same repeated pneumonia but am on a major upswing THANKS TO ME2ME . She suggested something as simple as garlic cloves and that sent me on a great deal of online research. There are issues with much of the new garlic in stores as it comes from China and has been irradiated so the center (the Allicin part which is the miracle worker) is dead and no good to anyone. Garlic was a main line of treatment in WWI for soldiers. Also, many are having great success with it in killing MRSA and Staph infections which no longer respond to antibiotics. Finally, I tracked some down online from Iherb dot com which is fresh, has a lot of the Allicin, called Garlinase Fresh in tablet form. Am not totally out of the woods yet, but the results are impressive going forward. I am thrilled. Thanks again Me2Me! ~Peach

Now, does anyone have a review or three to share? Thank-you~Peach

[ennui1]

Looks like a Ripka show has been added -- April 20, 1 am EDT, Retiring Styles.

I wouldn't want anyone to miss it.

[LuckyPeach]

On 4/7/2014 oceanviewTL said:

Hi, Peach -

Monaco watch: I bought the brown version and it is a beauty!

My only concern is the usual for those of us with tiny wrists - it's loose even on the tightest hole and the strap wraps all the way around to the top (not a good look). I was torn, and then saw that the brown version of the last watch (the one with 3 straps) is now available again. I ordered that, since I have and love the black Spinel version and will return the Monaco watch, even though it is gorgeous.

Lesson - I have to have the willpower not to order any watches unless they come in size small and have removable links!

New bracelet with the evil eyes - small and delicate, but beautifully designed, flawless and a keeper.

Braided cuff with amethyst end caps - expensive but worth it. Elegant design, beautiful piece. My only critique is that the stones look better, or more noticeable, from the perspective of the faceted side, and those sides of both stones face each other (not the top of the bracelet). Because of that, the stones do not appear as large as they really are. That is very different from my other JR "upside down" cuffs with stones (malachite, onyx, aquamarine). With my tiny wrists, I generally squeeze the ends closer together for a better fit, which in this case makes the stones even less noticeable. That said, I still love the bracelet, so will probably keep it.

Oceanview, nice haul! ...just adding the J-numbers for readers...

J290209 Evil Eye soft bracelet

J290763 Monaco watch

J291794 Braided cuff with Amethyst endcaps

Thanks for sharing your reviews with the Ripkanistas! ~Peach

[LuckyPeach]

REVIEW: J269259/J269258 Monaco bracelet in Cognac Quartz, brown Diamonique

Grade: B+

Yea: Saturated, well-matched gemstones

Boo: light gram weight

Value (1=low; 10=high): 6

Quality gems take center stage in Monaco-styled soft link bracelet

If this lighter weight, gem-intensive bracelet had been at a better price point, it probably would be adorning every Ripkanista's wrist in at least one of the choices of Turquoise, Onyx or Cognac Quartz, perhaps more than one. Either price point or gram weight should have to "give" but not both at the same time!

Still, this 3/8" wide at each of the six oval pineapple-cut Cognac Quartz stations (7 1/2" version) is worth keeping for the heavily-saturated gems and lovely JR Monaco design. Judith puts her signature lotus leaves at the four corners, merging into clear DMQ (forty points ctw) down the sides, then opens up with sides with piercework and leaves the undergallery wide open. Berge texturing and rope borders abound but somehow they are not as weighty as one would expect. The six stations are connected with seventy points of single row brown DMQ in a narrow bridge of five round stones just shy of 1/8" wide to carry on the cognac color story. Cognac Quartz blends smoothly with the brown DMQ. Lobster closure is the larger stone-free version made up of twisted Berge matte-satin roping, for an easy, secure stays-on-the-wrist finish.

For those Ripkanistas who are able to find this Monaco bracelet when the odd one pops into stock here at the Q or Over There or via Ripkanista-to-Ripkansta trading, it is worth seeing in person before a final decision whether or not to keep is made. Very comfortable to wear and JR design plus gem quality are quite arresting to the eye. ~Peach

[donnaluby]

Hi LuckyPeach, first I hope you have recuperated with your bout of pneumonia and are feeling much better.

I love the cognac quartz monaco soft link bracelet. I bought mine in turn when it was first presented on air and I love it. I have it on today with the JR heart/with paraiba tourmaline. I hope you enjoy your new bracelet and wear it in the best of health!

[fuji]

Criss Cross Ring and cuff- J269692/J269694 - these are each on clearance, so the price was . I had been eyeing them for a while, and apparently missed them when they were a OTO. Thanks to one of the ring reviewers who mentioned she felt it ran small, I ordered my usual size 6 as well as a 7 for the ring. The size 6 did not even go over my knuckle, but the 7 fit fine. I was looking for a ring that was all silver and cold be worn with anything-- this ring is it. I really like these pieces. The touch of DMQ at the top "X" is nice, and sparkles like crazy. The finish looks "brushed", but it is a reflection of the tiny, micro etching of the silver. I love the contrast between this and shinier cuffs when stacking. My wrist is just under 6.5, and I got the S cuff, and ever so slightly and gently widened it a bit for a perfect fit that slides below and above my wrist bone.

[LuckyPeach]

REVIEW: J276934 Smooth oval Onyx bead dangle omegas with Moonstone cabochon

Grade: A

Yea: all the right elements--quality, wear everywhere, strong posts

Boo: my bead cap is just a hair off center

Value (1=low;10=high): 9.5!!!!

Beautiful sleek earrings really go "from blue jeans to black tie"

It is hard not to gush over such classy and classic earrings when all the perfect Judith Ripka design elements merge with strong posts, no Diamonique, rich black Onyx that reflects the light and a marvelous price.

So, I'll just have to gush over these wear-everyday gems, set off with a neutral pale grey Moonstone cabochon endcap encased in twisted satin roping for a touch of elegance. Starting back at the top, JR utilizes her classic slant Berge, bordered in roping bale, 1/4" and narrowing to 1/8" at the bottom attached to a fixed east-west Berge circle. The fun begins with a north-south 1/16" rope circle moving fluidly off the fixed circle. Swinging off the rope circle is a u-capped 9/16" by 1/2" oval Onyx bead which catches every available light source for a rich sheen. Length of this masterpiece is 1 3/4" by 1/2" --the perfect length not to be missed, yet neither to show off.

Omega backing opens to the maximum over sturdy posts we've been missing for the past few years and lobe spacing is just enough for Ripkanistas with medium detached lobes. Silver has substance and earring weight is moderate. Nearly as exciting as the great design and wear-ability is the fact that these earrings are on the Q for under $80 on 4 E/P and available in both pierced and clip. Honestly, does it get any better? I think not. ~Peach