QVC Smithsonian collection - ick!

[T L]

Last night, QVC had a collection of repros of very famous pieces in the Smithsonian Gem Collection, like the Hope Diamond, Chalk emerald, Bizmark and Logan sapphire, etc. . . .

They were just so cheesy looking and awful with fake metal and awful simulants. They used bright blue stones for the blue diamond repros, and they were so unrealistic. I know, what do I expect? It's QVC after all. It was horrific to see them show the real thing, and then these awful repros. Why even bother making reproductions. These pieces are in a class by themselves, and any repros would only be cheap looking ,and cheesy, by comparison. They had the show at the Smithsonian and Christine Webb (a gemologist with the Smithsonian), was their special guest. I can only imagine what she REALLY thought of the repros. She was good with her acting skills.

 

[VapidLapid]

Oh my.

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/app.nav/params.class.O563/walk.yah.1001

I had to do a double-take when I saw the "Hooker Ring"

I wonder if they pay the smithsonian for the "right" to copy these

 

[T L]

The Smithsonian definitely gets something out of it, otherwise, why would they be allowed to use their museum logo on the packaging, and film the show on the museum premises? The Hooker "yellow diamond" ring sold out. I almost barfed. It looks as bad as a gumball machine ring.

One of my favorite pieces in the collection is the Blue Heart diamond ring. Does this look anything like the real thing??
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/...Smithsonian-Simulated-Blue-Heart-Diamond-Ring

 

[kenny]

Yeah, I can see how some see it as tacky, but I think it's fine.
It's not my cup of tea, but different strokes for different folks.

Near the entrance of my local supermarket they sell plastic diamond rings from a gum ball machine.
No problem.

 

[VapidLapid]

That does come with a fine looking certificate that says the original stone is "In fact, it's one of the largest, finest, natural blue diamonds in the world. The
Gemological Institute of America (GIA) graded the Blue Heart as a natural fancy
deep-blue diamond with a clarity grade of VS-"

Kind of reminds me of the washington monument thermometer souvenir I got in 1966, except the thermometer was useful

 

[T L]

Yeah, I can see how some see it as tacky, but I think it's fine.
It's not my cup of tea, but different strokes for different folks.

Near the entrance of my local supermarket they sell plastic diamond rings from a gum ball machine.
No problem.

It would be fine if these were gum ball machine prices, but they're not.

 

[VapidLapid]

they don't even come with a stick of gum!

 

[movie zombie]

stating the obvious: marketing for the masses and for the most part P* is not the masses.

MoZo

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I saw this in the line up and got excited thinking it was a documentary or something on the collection. Then I saw it was on QVC

 

[PinkTower]

The Smithsonian definitely gets something out of it, otherwise, why would they be allowed to use their museum logo on the packaging, and film the show on the museum premises? The Hooker "yellow diamond" ring sold out. I almost barfed. It looks as bad as a gumball machine ring.

One of my favorite pieces in the collection is the Blue Heart diamond ring. Does this look anything like the real thing??
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/...Smithsonian-Simulated-Blue-Heart-Diamond-Ring

I found the yellow/brown one the most interesting, also. If you can purchase perfect fakes on the internet for about ten dollars, then why are their fakes so awful? Fakes can be good enough to fool professionals.

 

[PinkTower]

Last night, QVC had a collection of repros of very famous pieces in the Smithsonian Gem Collection, like the Hope Diamond, Chalk emerald, Bizmark and Logan sapphire, etc. . . .

They were just so cheesy looking and awful with fake metal and awful simulants. They used bright blue stones for the blue diamond repros, and they were so unrealistic. I know, what do I expect? It's QVC after all. It was horrific to see them show the real thing, and then these awful repros. Why even bother making reproductions. These pieces are in a class by themselves, and any repros would only be cheap looking ,and cheesy, by comparison. They had the show at the Smithsonian and Christine Webb (a gemologist with the Smithsonian), was their special guest. I can only imagine what she REALLY thought of the repros. She was good with her acting skills.

Yep, that Ms. Webb was interesting, all right. The Smithsonian is not our tax dollars at work, huh? Even though the admission is free? Because they were being allowed to film in areas the average corporation could not have access to.

 

[Treenbean]

Total crap. I used to get the Smithsonian catalog and even had a ring from there but yikes this is not well done at all.

The only good thing is when you click on one of the items you can actually see video snipets of the real thing with a little audio commentary.

 

[chrono]

Maybe the Smithsonian needs to find new funding sources just in case the Govt will no longer be funding part of their budget (deficit reduction)?

 

[kenny]

Tiffany also now uses its posh name to sell lower end stuff, although not this low end.

 

[JewelFreak]

Oh, yak! The Carmen Lucia "ruby" ring almost killed me. What a bunch of dreck.

I've always thought it such a waste, with all the marvelous things in their collection, that the Smithsonian catalog is done like a cheesy one for kitchen & garage gadgets. This QVC stuff confirms they need to revamp their marketing. Gosh, they could do wonderful stuff! Yeah, our tax dollars at work. Of course they get a % -- licensing fees.

--- Laurie

 

[T L]

Tiffany also now uses its posh name to sell lower end stuff, although not this low end.

I don't know about that, this hideous PP ring gives QVC a run for it's cheezy money.
http://www.silvernice.com/tiffany-yellow-quartz-large-stacks-ring.html

 

[T L]

Oh, yak! The Carmen Lucia "ruby" ring almost killed me. What a bunch of dreck.

I've always thought it such a waste, with all the marvelous things in their collection, that the Smithsonian catalog is done like a cheesy one for kitchen & garage gadgets. This QVC stuff confirms they need to revamp their marketing. Gosh, they could do wonderful stuff! Yeah, our tax dollars at work. Of course they get a % -- licensing fees.

--- Laurie

Do you think Laurence Graff's wife might want to wear that instead of the big Graff ruby since it's such a great repro of a large ruby.

 

[T L]

QVC also did the famous Diana ring, but at least it's in silver, and the sapphire is dark like the real one, so it's not as cheezy.
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/...ue-Sterling-880-ct-tw-Simulated-Sapphire-Ring

Wait!! It's not 18 carats like the real one. Oh, that's 18 kt gold!

 

[Lovinggems]

Those pieces will be good for a costume party, or as props for a play.

 

[Burberrygirl]

Yeah, I can see how some see it as tacky, but I think it's fine.
It's not my cup of tea, but different strokes for different folks.
Near the entrance of my local supermarket they sell plastic diamond rings from a gum ball machine.
No problem.

That's how I feel.

 

[Imdanny]

There are people who study famous diamonds and make very accurate reproductions. I see that QVC didn't hire any of those people.

 

[Imdanny]

Tiffany also now uses its posh name to sell lower end stuff, although not this low end.

Give them time.

 

[Arkteia]

I used to buy reproductions of paintings by impressionists for my office. some kids liked it, and I would tell them about the artists. I think that Smithsonian collection may have some education value; not everyone can afford traveling to see the originals.

 

[T L]

I used to buy reproductions of paintings by impressionists for my office. some kids liked it, and I would tell them about the artists. I think that Smithsonian collection may have some education value; not everyone can afford traveling to see the originals.

Crasru,
The problem is that many of these repros look nothing like the original. Take the blue heart diamond ring (see the link above in one of the threads). I believe the diamond is a cleftless heart too, and the one in the ring is a heart with a cleft and very tanzanite blue. The heart ring has a greyish blue stone. The Hooker yellow diamond ring suffers from the same problems. It would be nice to have an authentic reproduction for educational purposes, I agree, but these are mass produced "dreck" as someone said above.

 

[T L]

Tiffany also now uses its posh name to sell lower end stuff, although not this low end.

Give them time.

They don't need time. Tiffany has scraped the bottom of the barrel as far as I'm concerned. They're nothing more than an overpriced Zales to me.

 

[VapidLapid]

As low as Tiffany has gone ever since they were first bought by, was it Avon (?) in the early 80s, they still can go lower. Wait til they license out their name to QVC and they make diamonique and technibondo "please return to TIffany c/o QVCtv rings" Zales is already doing a good job at being an overpriced Zales.