The Life Of The Rich And Famous Bruce Makowsky, Handbag Mogul

At one time it seemed that QVC had become B. Makowsky handbags all the time. Not so much anymore, but don’t feel sorry for Bruce.

The Wall Street Journal did a story Friday about Makowsky’s hood, which is the gated community of Beverly Park. The paper describes it as “one of the most exclusive, expensive places in Los Angeles, a land of exclusive, expensive places.”

http://www.wsj.com/articles/l-a-s-star-studded-neighborhood-1420736165

There article describes Makowsky as a “handbag mogul and real-estate developer,” and has a photo of one of his palatial houses, which is described as an investment property.

He paid $13.45 million for it and is selling it for $25 million.

But wait, Makowsky has a second home in Beverly Park, one he actually lives in. It’s a Tuscan-style place.

Here is what he told The Journal about that cozy shack:

I could afford to live anywhere I want,” says Mr. Makowsky, who paid $22.6 million for his nine-bedroom, 15-bathroom home in 2010, according to public records. “This is a little slice of heaven.” He estimates his property, which he’s extensively renovated, is worth $100 million today.

So who else lives in this LA neighborhood? Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Sylvester Stallone and Mark Wahlberg, to name a few folks.

QVC Diamond Tennis Bracelet: 18K, H Color, VS Clarity

Props to QVC for its Gem Day event Thursday, where it really upped its game.

The dominant home shopping network presented the highest quality diamond item we have ever seen on TV.

We tuned in for the final hour and saw Peyton Kelley talking about a diamond tennis bracelet. We looked at the screen and couldn’t believe our eyes: It said 18K gold.

We hopped on our computer and saw that not only was the bracelet 18k gold, the diamond quality was out of this world.

http://www.qvc.com/Diamond-Tennis-Bracelet-18K-Gold-by-Affinity.product.J319038.html?sc=J319038-ISRC

“As part of QVC’s quality requirements, randomly selected white diamonds from this bracelet have undergone a survey by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to verify the diamonds are natural and at least H color and VS clarity,” QVC.com said.

Kelley explained that QVC had gone to a jewelry company that makes pieces for a high-end company and asked what it had in its vault. It was this bracelet.

Now, it was not cheap. The bracelet came in 6 3/4, 7 1/4 and 8 inches. The 6 3/4 was $4,719, and is now $5,099.

The diamonds ranged from 2.8 carats to 3.3 carats, depending on the length of the bracelet.

But that diamond quality! Wow! Now that’s what we’re talking about.

Pamela McCoy ‘s ShopHQ Diamond Ring A Real Sparkler

OK, we’ll give credit where credit is due.

We weren’t fans of Pamela McCoy’s diamond line for Jewelry Television. But the former ShopHQ host has returned to the No. 3 home shopping channel with a new diamond collection, and the Today’s Top Value, and we think it’s a winner.

Pamela McCoy

It’s a 1.95-carat diamond round and baguette 14K gold ring. It came in white, yellow and rose gold, but white and yellow have already sold out. the price tag is $1,290, or six ValuePays of $215.

http://www.shophq.com/gems-of-distinction-14k-gold-1-95ctw-round-baguette-diamond-confidence-ring/144-604.aspx

The sparkler is modeled after a ring that McCoy had made for her. We remember admiring the ring when McCoy posted a photo of it on Facebook.

Last night McCoy said that a ShopHQ buyer also saw the ring and wanted it duplicated for the network.

McCoy also said that that the TTV’s diamond quality is better than her original ring. The color grade is H-I and clarity is I1-I2.

Jewelry Designer Judith Ripka Named In Sex-Swap Suit

This is a juicy way to start off the New Year, and who’d have thunk it would involve upscale jewelry designer, and QVC vendor, Judith Ripka.

Celebrity stylist, ex-HSN vendor, old soul and often-hilarious Waynescot Lukas (a Jersey boy) had always lamented that the rich hate to pay their bills. This is the gorgeous man with the gorgeous mane who helps make Christie Brinkley gorgeous with his wardrobe selections for her.

Judith Ripka

Anyway, Ripka has been accused of just what Wayne talks about. Interior decorator Tristan Harstan, who designed Ripka’s Madison Avenue shop, is suing her, claiming she wanted him to give away his goodies so she could get free goodies for one of her luxurious dwellings, according to the New York Daily News.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/judith-ripka-sued-designer-sex-furniture-claim-article-1.2062561

Harstan alleges that Ripka told him to have sex with upscale furniture designer Nancy Corzine, apparently so she could get furnishings for her Palm Beach home, the News reported.

Ripka often swaps pieces from her high-end, non-QVC jewelry line for “goods and services,” the suit says, and that in fact she has given Corzine $3.4 million worth of baubles for furniture, fabric and lighting since 2005.

Harstan would not put out for Corzine, telling Ripka he wasn’t “a male prostitute,” according to the lawsuit.

The interior designer also charges that Ripka owes him more than $105,000 in salary.

Ripka sold her company for $22.5 million last April to Xcel Brands Inc., which owns the Isaac Mizrahi(another QVC vendor) brand and has an interest in the Liz Claiborne New York brand.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/xcel-brands-acquires-judith-ripka-2014-04-04

“This is an outstanding opportunity to cultivate our brand and reach our loyal followers in a new way,” Ripka, who served as the brand’s Chief Designer, said at the time. “We deeply value our relationship with Robert D’Loren and look forward to joining him at Xcel. I’m thrilled to be part of the Company and believe that we are well positioned for the future.”

According to the press release about the deal, “Judith Ripka Brand’s existing product lines are sold by independent jewelers in the U.S., abroad and online, as well as on QVC under the ‘Judith Ripka Sterling’ brand. Judith Ripka Brand is currently distributed in over 200 stores in the U.S. and generates approximately $140 million in retail sales.”