Colored Gold has Officially Jumped the Shark

After watching Lisa present some Barney-the-Dinosaur, purple-colored gold on QVC last night, I'm officially declaring that colored gold has Jumped the Shark.

The original and natural yellow color is perfect. White and rose are simply beautiful and they are classics. Even a little chocolate, black, and green can be enjoyable in small doses or as accents. But purple? And it's not even a nice, soft understated tanzanite purple.

The classic Byzantine bracelet presented last night in purple was just the last straw for me. This is getting ridiculous. As expensive as gold is right now, why would anyone pay for a 14k gold bracelet coated in Crayola Crayon Purple?

I don't get it.

Shopping Around ... Too Cool for School

• For just a split second, I thought this was real: The Home Shopping Network Introduces Talking Presidential Candidate Doll® Collection. Hey, I’ve come to expect anything from the company that sells Banana Bunkers!

• Wanna be an easy rider? Enter the QVC Orange County Choppers Sweepstakes. The Grand Prize is $10,000 cash plus an Orange County Choppers bike that will signed by Paul Teutul Sr., Paul Teutul Jr., and Mikey Teutul and has an engraving that has "QVC Inaugural Show October 9, 2008" on it. You know, you just can't get much cooler than having QVC engraved on your bike. Good grief! Who made that decision? Probably the same guy that likes to put "DMQ" on the face of all the Diamonique watches. QVC has improved by leaps and bounds, but don't kid yourselves, QVC is still not considered cool.

• HSN is also having their own Great Gift Giveaway. Although I still haven't figured out exactly what they are giving away exactly.

• Kim Parrish--of the Kim Parrish Collection on HSN and former QVC host--will be touring around the country giving workshops for Miss America's Outstanding Teen to give contestants inside look into the organization and the acting/audition process. Maybe she'll find the next VP candidate? You never know!

• You might want to read this before you go investing in all those gold coins sold on home shopping. Basically, buy what you like, don't buy because you probably won't get a huge ROI if you ever decide to sell them.

• I looove Project Runway, so it's only fitting that I love all the PR alums that come to QVC. Chole Dao was one of--if not the--first to do this. Dao says her pieces on QVC typically sell out. "It was scary because you don't think you can sell 10,000 units of anything, but I do," she said. Not only are her pieces selling out on QVC, she's also got her own line of electronic accessories at Verizon, she’s a spokesperson for Dove, and she's got some higher-end fancy duds on her website. Check ‘em out!

• It's not on her website yet, but Lori Greiner's upcoming TSV for November 9th looks like it's da bomb, baby! This absolutely ginormous jewelry cabinet swivels 360 degrees and can hold up to 700 pieces of jewelry and it opens up into a 3-way mirror. Although I do not enjoy looking at my bra bulges and muffin top in a 3-way mirror, I do appreciate the huge jewelry storage capacity. Here's a picture from The Insider:
  
  

Speaking of The Insider, when in the heck is QVC gonna wise up and start giving out free subscriptions for its most loyal customers? If you spend over a certain amount of money with QVC, wouldn't it behoove them to extend this mere pittance of a gesture of goodwill? It could even be an online copy. In fact, I would probably prefer that.

Today's Blue Plate Specials ... Flaming Hot!

The QVC TSV is a Candle Impressions Indoor/Outdoor Lantern with Candle & Timer. Oh, how I loooooove flameless candles. Not that I don't like the flaming kind, but they are a tad dangerous around cats, dogs, kids, and especially husbands! In fact, I was just telling Mr. Queen Bea how I needed a truckload or two of flameless candles for the new place. Queen Bea's credit card will be smoking today, chickadees!


The HSN TS is the Wei East Restore Resurface and Renew with Golden Root collection. I know that Wei has a bit of a cult following, but I've never personally tried her products. Her Eyes Alive is on my list to try though! I checked out her Wei East Golden Root Renewal Daily Restoration Wear and discovered that it had a 4.6 rating with 86 reviews. That's Holy Grail Fountain of Youth Magic Potion good. Wow!

The ShopNBC OTV is a pair of 14K White Gold 0.50ct Diamond Hoop Earrings. For about $200, these are ok, but they aren't doing it for me. I don't like all the cutouts on the back. I realize that they want to make the earrings lighter and use less gold to keep the price down, but the design makes it look like another another pair of earrings entirely.

There is a 15% off online only sale on Croton and Invicta watches that ends today and $1.99 shipping on gems and silver.

Today's Blue Plate Specials ... Eat in the Heat!

QVC is obsessed with all this summer eating business! Maybe David “Yum-Yum Face” Venable and his appetite have taken over the Q. Anyway, today--for your July 4th picnic prep pleasure--the TSV is the Kitchen King Pro 11-piece Food Preparation Station.

This is one of those gadgets that does a little of everything. It looks like it works (really like the suction cup feet!), but I always end up with storage and clean up issues with these things. Regardless, it’s hotter than a goat’s butt in a pepper patch around here so Queen Bea will not be eating outside any time soon!




HSN has the Clean-A-Bout 1600psi Premium Electric Pressure Washer as their TS. I’m sure it’s great, but I just can’t sit through those horrid presentations where the washer is roaring and the host is trying to talk over the sound without sounding too much like they’re screaming. Not enjoyable. However, Laura Hutton will be on today and that is enjoyable. Hope she got some sleep!




ShopNBC has a fabulous 14k 1.26ct. diamond flex ring from Sonia Bitton of the Galerie de Bijoux Collection—I just love saying all that in my horrendous French accent (I sound strikingly like the chef from The Little Mermaid, “Les poissons, les poissons, how I love les poissons!”).

But, as fabulous as it might be, it’s also over $1600. Not really doable. This is why Queen Bea has an undying love for fake diamonds (note recent Tacori ring purchase). I wonder if these flex rings are easier or harder for people to slide over their knuckles.

Priness Di (inspired) Jewelry Sneak Peak

So Paul Burrell's new line of jewelry based on what he thinks Princess Diana would like will be premiering tonight on ShopNBC. I hate to admit it, but from what I've seen so far, it's not bad. It is, however, hella expensive!


J181983 - 18K WG 1.95ct Diamond Pave Ring
This ring can be yours for the rock bottom price of $3,699.95--that's 5 Value Pays of only $739.99. I do like it though, but I'm a sucker for pave.


J181978 - 14K White & Cognac Diamond Cross Pendant w/ Chain
At only $799.95 , this is one of the most affordable items in the collection, which probably means that they brought in huge quantities of this one. It's nice, but not 800-dollars worth of nice.

J181980 - 18K Tri-Color 1.14ct Diamond Flower Ring
For only $1,699.95 , this flower ring can be yours! I'm not much of a flower person, but this ring ain't bad at all. I like the 3D effect.

J181973 - 18K 2.29ct Diamond Earrings
These earrings are on sale for a mere pittance at only $3,299.95 (15% off folks--hurry up before they're gone! I'll be grabbing a pair for me, my mom, and the babysitter.)

Honestly, this is why I have a deep and forbidden love of fake diamonds. These prices are ridiculous! How many times would I wear those earrings? For 3k, they better pick up my dry cleaning or something. Jeez!

Look for the show tonight with Wes and Pam McCoy and tomorrow night with Libby Floyd at 7 p.m. both nights.

Paul Deasy Spills the Beans about Technibond!

Technibond. That word will cause fights to break out. It's a loaded word in certain circles. The best deal in gold jewelry or the biggest bunch of bubble-gum-machine-crap ever manufactured. Which is it???

Paul Deasy has spilled the beans on what really happened with the controversial line:

I was at HSN when technibond was originally launched. There have been many changes over the years. The first product was 18kt over sterling silver with a very thin polymer coating over top of that. This made it hypo-allergenic and helped to prevent the gold from coming off. This also is why the original product had a lifetime guarantee. Then somebody in their infinite wisdom decided to save money and not put the coating on. The resulting disaster nearly killed the product line. Then they fixed the problem for a couple of years. When I returned to HSN, they changed the formulation again and switched to 14kt gold over sterling silver. They also discontinued the guarantee. The bottom line? I figure that over time with wear the gold may begin to come off. That being said, I think for the price it is a pretty good value, especially with the cost of gold today. If you want something with a bit more gold over silver, always look for something classified as vermeil. That has a minimum standard (120 mils of gold over silver) and should last a bit longer.

And what does he think of QVC's plated jewelry lines?

I always liked the epiphany collection. Platinum clad over silver makes lots of sense to me, as far as helping anti tarnish. The only downside there, is when you are coating with platinum you can't size rings, but that is a very minor point. I like the veronese, but I admit I am not up to speed on what is the thickness of 18kt over the silver. I can find out, though, as I know very well the person who brought it to QVC.

So, in reality, EVERYONE WAS RIGHT! It really was that good and it really did get that bad. I just wish that these shopping channels would get it through their collective thick skulls that their customers aren't as dumb as they'd like to think they are (or wish they were anyway).

ETA: Click here to find out what Paul and Judy are up to now!

For the Forbidden Love of Fake Diamonds: Diamonique Deal of the Day

"As Is" Diamonique 1.55 ct tw 4 Row Channel Set Band Ring 14K

Item# J14002

QVC Price: $172.50

As Is Price: $94.72

No Easy Pay

Limited sizes: 7, 8, 9

Only white gold

Oh my goodness ... Queen Bea is having heart palpitations!

I love Diamonique. I don't care what anybody says. And this looks like a winner. Small carat weight spread out over four channel-set rows of little brilliant-cut stones equals a very believable and wearable ring.

Queen Bea's finger is hoovering over the "add to cart" button ... that damn ring is just taunting me!

Less than $100 is not a bad price at all for a 14k gold ring. The Q charges that much for Epiphany! (Epiphany is silver coated in platinum for those not in the QVC loop.)

If you want it, act quick (as the host would proclaim: run, don't walk to the phone!). These as-is offers go fast. The good ones anyway.

Sigh. Queen Bea stares at the empty finger where this ring belongs and cries a little on the inside. I could always cancel if I change my mind ...

HSN TS: Black is the New Yellow

14K Diamond-Cut "Colors of Italy" "Glitter" Necklace

Item: 325-982

$94.95
2 FlexPays of $47.48

Choice of 17, 19, or 21-inch length
Yellow Napoli, Green Firenze, Pink Venezia, Black Milano (black rhodium-plated), Brown Terra Di Siena, White Cortina (rhodium-plated) or Amber Roma
Made in Italy (Yeah!)

HSN actually posted that the necklace was 2.07 grams, although they didn't specify which length weighed that much. I so, so, so wish that these shopping channels would get their crap together and always post the gram weight. With today's gold prices it's even more important to know what you're buying.

[rant] It's not like I can reach in through the television and snatch the chain out of the host's hand and feel it for myself, so a gram weight is all I have to go by. And, no, the host trying to explain how the chain feels just ain't gonna cut it. They say misleading things like: this ring has alot of gold presence ... or, this bracelet has a bold gold look ... ugh! Just say it like it is already! I do not want the look of or the presence of ... Queen Bea needs her gold to be hefty like her! [/rant]

I like that gold is becoming more adventurous with color. There's no reason why we have to stick to just yellow, rose, and white! With alloys, all sorts of beautiful colors are possible ... the ones that are just plated to achieve the color do concern me though. Plating always rubs off eventually. Trust me, I always have to get my white gold wedding band re-rhodium plated (while trying to dodge hungry sales people at the jewelry store).

Queen Bea Got Invited to the Ball!

Well ... maybe not a ball exactly. I checked my email and found this invite:

As a valued jewelry and gemstone customer, we would like to invite you to participate in a research study on jewelry and gemstone preferences. The research will last approximately two hours. You will receive $75 cash compensation for participating in this study.

I have several slots available to be filled on a first come first serve basis on Wednesday June 18th, and Thursday June 19th. (Times listed below). The research being conducted in a group discussion format. You will spend time sharing your ideas and opinions about jewelry with research facilitators. It would be appreciated if you wore or brought a few pieces of jewelry that reflect your personal taste. This is not mandatory, only preferable.

These groups are enjoyable, as well as a great opportunity for you to talk about your jewelry interests. The $75 will be given to you at the conclusion of the research study.

If you are interested in joining us on the 18th or 19th of June, please answer the following questions and indicate which time slot you would prefer to attend. Again, the slots are filled on a first come, first served basis.

Questions:
Do you, or anyone in your family, work in advertising or public relations? Marketing research? Or for a manufacturer or retailer of jewelry?
Have you participated in a similar research panel within the last six months?
What shopping channels do you use to purchase jewelry from? ***

Wednesday June 18th : 9:00 am., 2:00 pm.
Thursday June 19th : 12 noon, 2:00 pm..

Thank you for your time. If you cannot make this particular group, but are interested in other market research studies, please let me know. Also, if you know anyone who hasn't purchased jewelry from television or online, we do have a specific group available for them to share their ideas and opinions.

***Gee, wonder why they would send me an invitation of all people. I never shop on home shopping channels or anything!

I am soooo excited! I get to make money telling these people exactly what I think. How fun! What jewelry should I wear? It needs to make a statement about what I will spend my hard-earned money on. Maybe the Barbara Bixby Romeo & Juliet ring ... it's beautiful, unique, designer, solid, quality craftsmanship, and not overpriced (although it's teetering on the verge of it!).

They need to know that trying to pass off drill bits as diamonds is bad and that stretching out gold so thin that it dents when you blow on it is very bad and they need to know that designer needs to really be designer, not just a famous name slapped on the same ol' crap.

Queen Bea is already polishing up her Diamonique tiara for the occasion!

QVC Today's Special Value: Love, Love, Love!

Bold Polished Wedding Band Hoop Earrings 18K Gold

Item# J26447

$177.84
4 Easy Pays of $44.46
FREE S&H

As Lisa Robertson would say ... love, love, love! Queen Bea really loves a big, bold yellow gold hoop and these are fabulous! Even though the Q probably just worked the cost of shipping into the price so they could offer it for free, I still appreciate the pretense.

There are soooo many times that I completely geek out and 'X' out of the QVC website after I see the price with shipping, handling, and tax added on. Ugh! That has killed the deal more times then I can count. But with gas prices soaring, shipping prices just aren't gonna come down anytime soon.

Kick A$$ Clearance Item of the Day

14K Spatial Textured Wide Band
J303714
Clearance Price: $279.98 (30% off)
Regular Price: $399.96
2 ValuePays of $139.99

What They Say: Shimmering with sweet style, this ring will wrap your finger in a sense of luxury. Created from polished 14K gold, it features patterned and sand finishes to create its intriguing details. In fact, this design was inspired by a summer dawn where all the fields were covered with dew as the spotted sections along this band show. It measures 1"L and has a graduated bandwidth of 3/4" to 3/8".

What Queen Bea Says: I thought I'd help ShopNBC redeem themselves after that hideous excuse for an OTV. This ring is all sorts of cool. I'm guessing that it's one of those polarizing designs--you either really love it or totally hate it. And Queen Bea looooves it! Loves like little droplets of gold rain splattered across your ring. One caveat: no gram weight given (as usual), so this could be made out of one flimsy gram of gold stretched out to within an inch of its life.

Today's Blue Plate Specials!

QVC: Today's Special Value

Item# E05418

Sharp 46" Diagonal Widescreen Full High Definition1080p

• $1385.00


• $67.97 S&H (Wow! That's high!!!)


• 5 (Not-So) Easy Pays of $277.00

What They Say: In a class by itself. See what you've been missing with this Sharp 46" diagonal widescreen full high-definition television. No matter what signal you're currently using, your viewing experience will be transformed with this affordable unit from one of the most trusted names in technology. Highest resolution available. Full 1080p resolution offers breathtaking color purity and crisp images. You might notice details like never before--the sequins on a dancer's dress, the rotation on a touchdown pass, or the smallest clue in the background of your most-watched mystery film.The fastest panel response in the industry. Six-millisecond response means no lag time, making it ideal for action and sports. Optimized picture control automatically adjusts the brightness to changing room conditions. Even near windows, doors, or other light sources you still see all the vivid, clear detail.Best seat in the house. With a 176-degree viewing angle, you have awe-inspiring HDTV from nearly every spot in the room. Invite your friends for the championship game or movie night.Space-saving slim design. Its narrow bezel and thin profile make it the perfect addition to any room in your home. Plus, it's lightweight--ideal for mounting on a wall.Not ready to go hi-def yet? This set works with an analog signal, too. Get it, and you'll be ready for the future when you want to upgrade.

What Queen Bea Says: Queen Bea would never get her arse off the throne if she had a 46" HDTV as her favorite court jester! And to think ... I could watch my boyfriend, Rick Domeier, in high definition! But considering the shipping alone is $67.97, Rick better be delivering it personally. Me thinks it's probably best for the both the Queen's coffers and the Queen's sanity that she stay far away from this particular TSV.

My boyfriend, Rick ... a.k.a. hottie TV delivery man!


HSN: Today's Special

Item# 322-423

Signature Club A Everything Vitamin C & More

$49.95 for the kit.
Can be set up for AutoShip for FREE.
Shipping & handling also FREE.
Two Flexpays of $24.98.

What They Say: When it comes to beauty, details make a world of difference. Those that count are a glowing, flawless-looking complexion, enhanced eyes and luscious lips. Adrienne's Everything Vitamin C and More Super Sale includes all you need to accomplish those beautiful details. And to aid in your flawless makeup application, we include a 2-sided magnifying mirror. Signature Club A Everything Vitamin C and More Super Sale Includes:
.7 oz. Wrinkle Filament FiberFill & Firm Instant Temporary Wrinkle Repair - this beauty treatment uses cutting-edge FiberFill technology and pharmaceutical-grade silicone molecules to form a temporary invisible net-like facial support system for sagging, crepey-looking skin while temporarily filling in wrinkles. It helps provide smooth-looking, less lined and firmer appearing skin. A perfect base for makeup, Wrinkle Repair also creates the illusion of smooth perfection when no makeup is being used.
.35 oz. Rapid Transport C Infused No Transfer Industrial Strength Concealer - our smudge-resistant, long-lasting, flaw-concealing roll-up concealer stick with a Rapid Transport C Infused Core moisturizes skin while providing excellent skin defect coverage. The specially chosen yellow-tone color with a creamy consistency hides redness, blemishes and makes imperfections virtually invisible.
.35 oz. Rapid Transport C Infused No Transfer Foundation - this smudge-resistant, long-lasting roll-up foundation stick with a Rapid Transport C Infused Core moisturizes skin while providing excellent coverage.
.35 oz. Rapid Transport C Infused No Transfer Eye/Cheek Color - versatile, smudge-resistant, long-lasting roll-up color stick with a Rapid Transport C Infused Core moisturizes skin while providing easy-to-apply, natural-looking eyeshadow and blush.
.12 oz. Rapid Transport C Infused Beauty Treatment Core Lipstick - moisturizes lips with the Rapid Transport C Infused Core while providing flattering True Berry color.
4.5 oz. Rapid Transport C Infused Tangerine Meltdown Cleansing Creme For Face and Eyes - excellent for most skin types, this cleanser frees skin of dirt and debris and gently melts off and removes makeup from face and eye with no need to tug on delicate skin. It is formulated with a combination of ingredients, including our Rapid Transport C ingredient and enlivened with a zesty tangerine fragrance.
1.7 oz. Rapid Transport C Infused Night Elixir - Adrienne's rich, super-emollient concentrated cream helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on over-40 skin. It contains a combination of ingredients, including a skin-penetrating, pH neutral, stable form of Vitamin C that is transported through the skin faster than other forms of Vitamin C, and is converted to ascorbic acid by the action of enzymes in the skin. The formulation acts as an antioxidant that helps fight environmental aggressors, which helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and gives skin a plump look. Deep-penetrating liposomes without feeling greasy to give skin a younger look and feel.
Magnifying mirror - this 2-sided makeup mirror has a regular mirror on 1 side and a 2X magnification mirror on the other side. The easel stand allows you to tilt the mirror to your needs. Embellished with black trim and stand, the mirror measures approx. 7-1/4""H x 5-1/2"W.

What Queen Bea Says: Queen Bea loves to watch Adrienne because she's sooo entertaining; however, it's hard to take beauty advice from a lady that's pulled tighter than the Queen's control top briefs after a night at the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet (Yes, I'm looking at you, Joan. But really I love you even more!). Her products always look greasy to me, but that could be just the way they show on TV (hmmm ... perhaps Queen Bea does need a 46" HDTV).

The one product that consistently gets raves on the product reviews and on all the message boards is her meltdowns--they smell like dessert and melt away all the dirt and makeup n your face. I'm thinking that if you want to try this line, that would be the place to start. Enter the word "meltdown" in Queen Bea's custom Google toolbar--which only searches the home shopping networks--to find them.

Another thing I love about Adrienne is that she uses models of all ages. For reals, y'all! Everything from knee high to a grasshopper to older than dirt. Queen Bea will freely wave her magic remote wand and change the channel if some stupid vendor tries to sell the latest miracle cream by demonstrating it on a dewy 18-year-old model. Ugh!

And in case you didn't already know, Adrienne is really Adrien Arpel--but she can't use that name on HSN.

ShopNBC: Our Top Value

Item# I8144

14K WG or YG 1.00ct Diamond Buckle Ring

$497.90
Five value pays of $99.58
Choice of yellow or white 14k gold

What They Say: A modern twist on a timeless design. This buckle style ring is crafted in your choice of polished 14K white or yellow gold. It features 84 round cut diamonds in prong settings and 19 round cut diamonds in channel settings. The total diamond weight is approximately 1.00ct with a color of H-I and a clarity of I2-I3. The setting size is 9/16" x 3/4" with a height of 1/8". It also has an undergallery for added beauty and comfort.

About the History of Belt Buckles: Belt buckles were invented in the 1600s for purely one very important utilitarian purpose - to keep up the pants of British sailors. Eyelets and rope and string were fashioned for them originally, but proved useless once the pants got wet. The sailors attached leather belts to buckles and the look started a fashion trend which eventually became a wardrobe staple.

During Victorian age, buckle rings were given as a token of love and affection. The romantic notion behind this symbol is that the couple fit together "like a buckle and belt." This buckle design twinkles with a reminder of the past while adding flashes of contemporary allure to your latest outfits.

What Queen Bea Says: The Queen greatly appreciates that ShopNBC tells you the grade of their diamonds--even when it's close to drill bit quality. The diamonds even look grey in the picture. Yuk! This is why Queen Bea loves her some fake diamonds! Diamond quality aside, I still don't like the design. Where's the part of the belt buckle that sticks in the belt hole? This doesn't even look like a buckle. And the gold on the back of the ring looks thin. This ring is simply a hot royal mess.

The Queen's Clearance Deal of the Day

Item# L56384

14K Ball Stud Earrings

• Regular price: $44.95
• Clearance price: $34.95 (22% off)
• Sorry, folks, no value pays!

Since, as we all know, May is gold month, I thought I would try to find some gold on the cheap. With the gold market going through the roof, it costs big bucks just for a tiny, tinny-sounding, thin, weightless sorry excuse for a piece of gold jewelry! So. Not. Worth. It.

Anyway, these studs are basic and, aside from a few problems with the earring backs, got great reviews. Eight millimeters is a great "Goldilocks" size--not too big to be uncomfortable and not so small to not be noticed. I have no idea how heavy they are since no gram weight is provided (this is a rant I will save for another day), but I personally don't mind if earrings are hollow or on the light side since I don't want to have to tuck my earlobes into my collar.