Re: new brand ambassador for American West Jewelry

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

@Venezia wrote:
@beach-mom - The headquarters are likely in NJ because that's more practical for QVC, who now owns the brand. Originally, Carolyn agreed to stay on as the representative; I'm sure to smooth the handover.

For me, it's the fact that the jewelry is no longer made in America. There are plenty of very nice brands of jewelry made overseas, but the fact that this was made here, in Albuquerque, was important to me. Now "American West" is just a name.

@Venezia - ITA! I've been wearing Native American jewelry since I was very young and my dad went to New Mexico frequently.

There used to be an artist who had a small shop near us, and he made the pieces in his studio from stones he bought in the southwest. His designs were beautiful and one of a kind, and I would have more if they were a tad less expensive. If you saw one you liked you had better get it because he wouldn't duplicate it.

I've been wearing Carolyn's designs since I "found" QVC. I will probably not add to the pieces I already have. But I am torn, because I like pieces from Casuse and Benally. I wonder how this all affects them.

I remember years ago our nephew was getting married in Key West on July 4. Carolyn had the TSV, and I wanted it. We were staying with family in a B&B. I was so conscious of getting it, and I had to be up at midnight. I watched the presentation on my phone with no sound while 3 other people slept, including one of DH's sisters - a frugal one who thinks "wasting money on jewelry" is ridiculous. She wears NO jewelry except a black watch.

But I got it! My turtle and I are doing fine!

The whole experience was actually kind of fun, and I look back with happy memories. Some of you will probably think I'm crazy to be concerned about buying something on our nephew's wedding weekend, but I will bet some of you will understand!

(We had a good time at the wedding later that evening. It was on the beach, and the weather cooperated!).

Venezia · ‎03-09-2010

@beach-mom - The one piece that got away from me was the Roderick Tenorio reversible turtle pendant.

I see it sometimes on eBay but for prices too high for me.

But I have many other pieces that I love, so I can't complain.

"" A little learning is a dangerous thing."-Alexander Pope

AuntMame · ‎10-16-2010

@beach-mom wrote:
@Venezia wrote:
@beach-mom - The headquarters are likely in NJ because that's more practical for QVC, who now owns the brand. Originally, Carolyn agreed to stay on as the representative; I'm sure to smooth the handover.

For me, it's the fact that the jewelry is no longer made in America. There are plenty of very nice brands of jewelry made overseas, but the fact that this was made here, in Albuquerque, was important to me. Now "American West" is just a name.

@Venezia - ITA! I've been wearing Native American jewelry since I was very young and my dad went to New Mexico frequently.

There used to be an artist who had a small shop near us, and he made the pieces in his studio from stones he bought in the southwest. His designs were beautiful and one of a kind, and I would have more if they were a tad less expensive. If you saw one you liked you had better get it because he wouldn't duplicate it.

I've been wearing Carolyn's designs since I "found" QVC. I will probably not add to the pieces I already have. But I am torn, because I like pieces from Casuse and Benally. I wonder how this all affects them.

I remember years ago our nephew was getting married in Key West on July 4. Carolyn had the TSV, and I wanted it. We were staying with family in a B&B. I was so conscious of getting it, and I had to be up at midnight. I watched the presentation on my phone with no sound while 3 other people slept, including one of DH's sisters - a frugal one who thinks "wasting money on jewelry" is ridiculous. She wears NO jewelry except a black watch.

But I got it! My turtle and I are doing fine!

The whole experience was actually kind of fun, and I look back with happy memories. Some of you will probably think I'm crazy to be concerned about buying something on our nephew's wedding weekend, but I will bet some of you will understand!

No, I understand. Totally. I've done the same sort of thing.

AuntMame · ‎10-16-2010

@Kachina624 wrote:

@Venezia wrote:
The brand has been sold, it's now manufactured overseas and Carolyn Pollack is no longer the representative. (They say designed here, but who knows who's really designing it?)

I'm glad I purchased my pieces before all that happened.
@Venezia Me too. Not to mention that the quality has decreased considerably. I go through my older pieces and can't believe the difference in weight, intricacy, etc

Too bad they couldn't have sold the business to someone with their passion.

I agree completely Kachina. My understanding is that they tried for along time to find a buyer but were unable to find anyone, so reluctantly sold the American West name to QVC and closed up shop.

It's a tough time to be in the jewelry business. But it's a tough time to be in any retail business. Large retailers like QVC, Macy's, Target, etc. demand huge markups from the manufacturers they carry. From what I've heard even bigger markups than they have in the past. That forces makers to go overseas and to cut costs however they can, so that the QVCs and Macy's continue to carry them.

The quality of everything has declined in the past years, from jewelry to handbags to clothing and shoes. With jewelry much of the cost increase is due to the high cost of metals, especially silver and gold. But even costume jewelry at Kohl's looks pretty pathetic compared to what it once was. (I used to LOVE Kohl's costume jewelry counter. Alas, another small pleasure gone.)

We are fortunate we purchased what we loved in years past when the quality was high.

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

@AuntMame wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:

@Venezia wrote:
The brand has been sold, it's now manufactured overseas and Carolyn Pollack is no longer the representative. (They say designed here, but who knows who's really designing it?)

I'm glad I purchased my pieces before all that happened.
@Venezia Me too. Not to mention that the quality has decreased considerably. I go through my older pieces and can't believe the difference in weight, intricacy, etc

Too bad they couldn't have sold the business to someone with their passion.
I agree completely Kachina. My understanding is that they tried for along time to find a buyer but were unable to find anyone, so reluctantly sold the American West name to QVC and closed up shop.

It's a tough time to be in the jewelry business. But it's a tough time to be in any retail business. Large retailers like QVC, Macy's, Target, etc. demand huge markups from the manufacturers they carry. From what I've heard even bigger markups than they have in the past. That forces makers to go overseas and to cut costs however they can, so that the QVCs and Macy's continue to carry them.

The quality of everything has declined in the past years, from jewelry to handbags to clothing and shoes. With jewelry much of the cost increase is due to the high cost of metals, especially silver and gold. But even costume jewelry at Kohl's looks pretty pathetic compared to what it once was. (I used to LOVE Kohl's costume jewelry counter. Alas, another small pleasure gone.)

We are fortunate we purchased what we loved in years past when the quality was high.

@AuntMame - A little OT, but I'm looking at a letter we just got today. After 46 years our jeweler in town is closing his retail business. He is keeping his repair and custom jewelry part open.

He's the one who cut my wedding ring off when I was expecting DS, and couldn't get it off. (My doctor ordered it.) Although I seldom went there, and never bought anything from them, they were always there on the corner. They were iconic in town.

AuntMame · ‎10-16-2010

@beach-mom wrote:
@AuntMame wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:

@Venezia wrote:
The brand has been sold, it's now manufactured overseas and Carolyn Pollack is no longer the representative. (They say designed here, but who knows who's really designing it?)

I'm glad I purchased my pieces before all that happened.
@Venezia Me too. Not to mention that the quality has decreased considerably. I go through my older pieces and can't believe the difference in weight, intricacy, etc

Too bad they couldn't have sold the business to someone with their passion.
I agree completely Kachina. My understanding is that they tried for along time to find a buyer but were unable to find anyone, so reluctantly sold the American West name to QVC and closed up shop.

It's a tough time to be in the jewelry business. But it's a tough time to be in any retail business. Large retailers like QVC, Macy's, Target, etc. demand huge markups from the manufacturers they carry. From what I've heard even bigger markups than they have in the past. That forces makers to go overseas and to cut costs however they can, so that the QVCs and Macy's continue to carry them.

The quality of everything has declined in the past years, from jewelry to handbags to clothing and shoes. With jewelry much of the cost increase is due to the high cost of metals, especially silver and gold. But even costume jewelry at Kohl's looks pretty pathetic compared to what it once was. (I used to LOVE Kohl's costume jewelry counter. Alas, another small pleasure gone.)

We are fortunate we purchased what we loved in years past when the quality was high.

@AuntMame - A little OT, but I'm looking at a letter we just got today. After 46 years our jeweler in town is closing his retail business. He is keeping his repair and custom jewelry part open.

He's the one who cut my wedding ring off when I was expecting DS, and couldn't get it off. (My doctor ordered it.) Although I seldom went there, and never bought anything from them, they were always there on the corner. They were iconic in town.

I think it's always been tough to be in the jewelry business, but more so in the last years. So many family-owned jewelry shops in our community have closed up or are skirting financial disaster these days. I've been wanting to get my mom's wedding/engagement set repaired but have been reluctant to take it to any jewelry stores in the area for fear they'll close up shop before her rings are returned to me.

The Internet has also cut into the engagement/wedding ring business which was a main source of revenue for local jewelry stores.

number one queen · ‎06-13-2011

@beach-mom @I love your story! Completely understand ,I have done the same thing. ! When I worked the 11-7 shift I would have my phone on at midnight checking out the TSV.. Several of us would get together and we would cover so the other one could check it out. I have some of Carolyn Pollacks best pieces,I believe.You can wear her pieces with anything! I have had more than one experience with people who never wear jewelry and their total lack of interest and their desire to let you know iit is always a difficult one. My husband gets me after years of packages coming and can testify how he would wake up and see me checking out the TSV. I am truly sorry for this line to be changed and am so glad for my vintage collection.

GinaV24 · ‎07-23-2010

@Kachina624 I didn't watch the new person doing the presentation but I agree with you that the quality has gone downhill. I haven't bought anything new in a while because I haven't seen anything that I'm interested in and once the quality goes down and yet the prices are still up.

Sad because the line has been a favorite of mine. I keep reminding myself that I really have enough jewelry.

Although I fell off the wagon watching a Heidi Daus show a couple of weeks ago. She had some gorgeous holiday items so I bought a pin and errings. Just received them over the weekend so didn't have the chance to try the earrings. I hope they don't irritate my ears the way her sunflower earrings do. I can wear them for around 3 hrs and then they have to come off.

GinaV24 · ‎07-23-2010

I have a cross and a bangle with an eagle on it from Roderick Tenorio's line. Glad I bought them when I did. They weren't inexpensive then but I wanted them and wear them often.