In a move that underscores the shifting tides of luxury merchandising, Xcel Brands has parted with the Judith Ripka jewelry line, selling it to Fuzion Creations for approximately $3 million. For those who track the intimate interplay of adornment and commerce, this transaction is more than a balance-sheet shuffle—it’s a chapter in the story of how fine jewelry has moved from the velvet cushion to the livestream.
Judith Ripka herself launched her first collection in 1977, an era when a woman’s jewelry box was still largely a repository for occasion-only pieces. Her genius lay in versatility: diamonds, 18-karat gold, and sterling silver crafted to glide from a boardroom to a dinner party. By 1993, she had opened her own boutique in Manhasset, New York, a quiet rebellion against the department store model. Later, under Xcel’s stewardship, the brand flirted with mass appeal on QVC before attempting a return to prestige at Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.
Now, Fuzion Creations—a Brooklyn-based powerhouse with over four decades in the wholesale fine jewelry trade—takes the reins. Its portfolio already includes Diamanté and Tiara, names that whisper of regal adornment, and its Guangzhou office connects it to global manufacturing roots. For Xcel, which bought Ripka for $20 million in 2014 when the brand was doing roughly $100 million in sales, the sale marks a strategic pivot. The company that once owned Halston and C. Wonder now builds influencer-led brands via social commerce and live streaming, reaching 200 million households. Robert D’Loren, Xcel’s chairman, frames the sale as a legacy preserved: a new vision for a classic name. In the lingerie world, we know that a well-set jewel—like a well-cut corset—can redefine a silhouette. Judith Ripka’s next act begins now.
Originally reported by WWD