Judith Ripka Brooch

One of the first jewelers to harness the potential of television, Judith Ripka has built a following for her bold work through her frequent appearances on the televised shopping channel QVC. Her earrings, necklaces and other accessories often feature matte gold and large colored precious gemstones highlighted with a dazzle of diamonds — statement pieces that can be worn every day for a touch of glamour.

The New York–born daughter of a couturier, Ripka studied art at Hunter College and the Parsons School of Design before founding her brand in 1977 with an 18-karat gold collection. She started simple, selling the pieces in her living room, leading to the opening of her first store in Manhasset, New York. Early on, Ripka recognized the power of advertising, taking out an ad in the New York Times that read, “Give your pearls a little culture,” and invited customers to bring in their old pearl necklaces and “see them transformed into a beautiful new necklace.” The updating of traditional styles that might be reserved only for special occasions into modern pieces for daily wear would become a touchstone of Ripka’s brand. By 1982, the jeweler was the proud recipient of the De Beers Award for Outstanding Jewelry Design.

After her QVC debut in 1997, Ripka’s jewelry company took off. A pioneer in selling luxury goods on television, she later appeared on the Shopping Channel, with Ripka herself as an engaging personality helping to drive the sales and popularity of her jewelry. Xcel Brands acquired her company in 2014 with the designs continuing to have an active presence on QVC.

Alongside her QVC-marketed jewelry, Ripka has designed custom pieces, such as the diamond, sapphire and ruby 18-karat gold brooch that Hillary Clinton wore at the 1997 inauguration for her husband, Bill Clinton. Talk-show host, author and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey has regularly sported her Eclipse earrings, which incorporate two tiers of precious stones, a design that can easily match outfits from day to night.

Other Ripka designs have brought high-end luxury to the masses, such as a 2010 line launched on QVC showcasing the designer’s take on famous jewels in the Smithsonian Institution. At every price point, Ripka’s jewelry has maintained its fine quality in the fresh interpretations of classic styles.

The Ripka brand continues to innovate its offerings, including branching into creative partnerships, such as a 2020 capsule collection with Italian architect Elena Manferdini as part of a series of collaborations with women artists and designers.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Judith Ripka jewelry and watches today.

Antique and vintage brooches, which are decorative jewels traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.

Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones.

Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.

At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany & Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric.

Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.

Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.