Can We Talk? Cartier Sues QVC!

According to WWD, Cartier, that ubiquitous French staple of the wanna be rich and stylish, is suing QVC for selling some Joan Rivers watches that infringe on their designs.

They're kidding, right?

Cartier is threatened by Joan Rivers on the Q? Seriously???

Do they understand that us poor folk survive off these celebrity-endorsed cheap, plastic knock-offs from home shopping channels? How else are we going to look "Madison Avenue" or "Ladies Who Lunch?" Honestly!

I wonder which of her watches they are talking about. Joan needs to leak that information because you know those particular watches would start selling like haute cakes!

Aren't all watches ripoffs of other watches in some form or fashion? I'm sure all of Cartier's designs are "pure" either. If I were Joan, I would take it as a huge compliment that Cartier thinks hers are so good they're worth suing over.

I don't have any of her watches, but I do have this Steel by Design watch that is ... ahem ... Cartier inspired (it even has the blue hands). I love it and wear it almost every day. And, trust me, I wasn't debating between getting the $35 watch and the $10,000 watch!

The TSV That Wasn't: The Case of the Disappearing Ring

I was watching the Q last night at midnight and saw what looked to be a crazy "Simona Collini Scroll Design Oval Domed Stainless Steel Ring" auction led by frantic auctioneer, Jane "The Ballerina" Treacy.


I don't know if the original TSV fell through and this was a last-minute replacement or they weren't able to get enough of these steel rings in on time, but they sure as heck didn't last.


Is there something I don't know about this ring? Does it have magic powers? Will it wash my dishes? What happened???

Today's Blue Plate Specials ... Thou Shalt Steel

HSN's TS is a 4.12ct Absolute Sparkle Cut Ring. Now we all know how Queen Bea *hearts* fake diamonds, but this is just u-g-l-y bad. This is what gives fake diamonds a bad name!

Let's take a tour, shall we? First, at a whooping 4 carats, the center stone has just flown past believable and even pushed beyond aspirational. The stone alone would be at least 50k (and that's one of average quality at best--certainly not the always-touted D-flawless).

Second, if you were so lucky as to get this stone, you certainly wouldn't set it in an cheap, flimsy setting like this one. It's made out of silver ... couldn't they have made it a little heavier without increasing the price to much? Yuck. Double yuck. Boo!!!

QVC's TSV is a Steel by Design 7" or 8" Set of 3 Hinged Bangles.
Oh how I love Steel by Design ... let me count the ways! However, I'm only preachin' about the steel-colored stuff because I haven't tried anything with the gold plating yet. I've heard that it's not as good because the color is either fake looking or wears off quickly.

Seriously, chickadees, give this line a try because it's awesome! Not expensive, durable, heavy, looks like platinum ... I just can't say enough about it.

And don't forget to watch Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, tonight! He's amazing.


ShopNBC's OTV is a Laurel Burch Large Tote & Mini Bag Set. I like her cat collection and used to have some Laurel Burch thank you cards. The tote just isn't my thing though. Looks like something I should be keeping my knitting in and I don't knit. Check out Laurel's website here.

Queen Bea is Off to the Ball!!!

Today's the big day of the Ball ... focus group ... whatever, same thing! If you don't already know, Queen Bea was invited to participate in a focus group discussion on jewelry and gemstone preferences of people who buy from home shopping channels.

They also asked us to wear jewelry that we like and explain why we like it. So I have on a Steel By Design ring, which I love because it looks like platinum, it's heavy, it's durable, and it was cheap. I also have on the much loved (what's not to love!) Barbara Bixby Romeo & Juliet garnet ring. Sigh ... I *heart* this ring.

Here's what I had to say about what I do NOT want:

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.

I'm leaving in a few hours, chickadees, so if there's anything you want me to mention, please drop me a quick line at homeshoppingqueen@gmail.com.

Now if I could just find where I put that damn Diamonique tiara ...

Steel by Design TSV Sneak Peak

I *heart* Steel by Design! :-) It's beautiful, durable, and doesn't cost much. This set of three bangles will be the TSV on July 2. I can't wait for all the SBD shows! The bangles come in either 7-inch or 8-inch size (Queen Bea will definitely be requiring the 8-inch set!), are only $28.46, and come on two easy pays on only $14.23 (I can just hear Lisa Robertson now ... that's less than 50 cents a day! it's practically free!).

If you love steel jewelry like me, also check out the Signity Modern Metals collection on ShopNBC. And it looks like there's alot of clearance items going on now ... (Queen Bea is now too distracted to keep writing ... sorry chickadees!).