Sandra‘s Closet

As promised here is the first post dedicated to a watch that was presented during SIHH 2019 last week. High jewellery, horology and design cues from nature have united in Audemars Piguet’s Haute Joaillerie collection also in past creations. This year’s unique piece pushes gem-setting craftsmanship to new heights. Named after the river that crosses Le Brassus, home of Audemars Piguet, Sapphire Orbe embodies a glittering river of diamonds and sapphires in graded hues of blue and orange, as night merges into day. Personally speaking, it is divine, I have rarely seen such a glamour in a contemporary design.

The outstanding piece features more than 12,000 stones, each rigorously selected, individually cut and set by hand. The central petal-shaped rings are entirely snow-set with diamonds and graded sapphires in 6 graded shades of blue and orange, each in 20 different diameters ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm in size. Multifaceted, this piece offers a play of colour and light that changes depending on the perspective from which it is seen. It took approximately 1,050 hours to gem-set this piece.

In the domed centre nestles the 2 cm dark blue sapphire-set globe which, when inverted, reveals the watch’s 18-carat white gold dial paved with graded orange sapphires. This spherical case houses a tiny quartz calibre. The bracelet is made of articulated diamond-set components, for maximum flexibility and comfort.

FUNCTIONS
Hours and minutes
CASE
18-carat white gold case in shape of a sphere, entirely set with dark blue sapphires, surrounded by 18 carat white gold rings, set with diamonds, graded blue and orange sapphires, glareproofed sapphire crystal, water-resistant to 20 m
DIAL
18-carat white gold dial, entirely set with graded orange sapphires, white gold hands
SETTING
2,794 briliant-cut orange sapphires 15.14 carats
3,240 briliant-cut blue sapphires 23.03 carats
6,069 briliant-cut diamonds 27.93 carats
Total 12,103 stones 66.10 carats
BRACELET
Bracelet composed of 18-carat white gold elements, assembled together by hand and set with brilliant-cut diamonds, jewellery type clasp.
MOVEMENT
Quartz Calibre 2710
Total diameter 16.2 mm (7¼ lignes)
Total thickness 1.9 mm
Number of jewels 7
Frequency of the quartz 32.768 Hz

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Audemars Piguet

The emblematic trunk continues its journey through the Louis Vuitton universe.
From the initial reality of a tangible utilitarian object, in another dimension a collection of modern, feminine watches and jewelry pieces, the new EMPRISE line will surely be loved by women around the globe.

The structural elements of the famous travel luggage are transported into the world of High Jewelry. Powerfully structured shapes, the choice of stones, some in vibrant colors have one thing in common: an infinitely Parisian attitude.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton © Charles Helleu

Together with Piaget, I hosted a very special evening called “Soirée de la Couture Précieuse” at the Swiss brand’s store on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich this month. I invited a small circle of friends that also enjoy the beauty of outstanding high jewelry creations.

Piaget‘s enchanting couture collection, first presented at the Biennale des Antiquitaires in 2012, was flown in from Paris on this special occasion. It was a true feast for all senses. While we were enjoying a gourmet dinner by Marco Pfleiderer at the large festive table in the middle of the shop, models presented the finest and most precious jewels, an ode to femininity and seduction. Later, we were able to explore the different facets by trying the pieces ourselves.

If you need a last minute inspiration for a Christmas gift, here you go. To find out more about the Couture Précieuse collection, I kindly invite you to read this previous post with all the details.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Pascal Pazanda

This fall, I hosted a very special event at my place: The PIAGET Rose Garden Party. Being an ambassador for the brand, I was very excited to invite my friends to explore the PIAGET ROSE collection and the amazing COCKTAIL inspired statement rings during a beautiful late summer night. My garden was filled with lots of Yves Piaget roses that have the most exquisite scent one can imagine and we all enjoyed this night surrounded by precious jewelry pieces, good friends and delicious food. Enjoy some impressions below!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Eddymotion and © Sandra Bauknecht

Chopard has created a very special new collection of Haute Joaillerie inspired by the iconic Disney Princesses in partnership with Harrods and the internationally renowned department store’s Disney themed Christmas celebration. For a previous post, please click here.

Last week, I visited Chopard’s headquarters in Meyrin/Geneva and saw those amazing pieces with my own eyes. Their beauty and craftsmanship are truly overwhelming. Stay tuned for a detailed post of my visit to be posted soon.

Caroline Scheufele has interpreted the key characteristics of Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Tiana by designing ten unique and exceptional Haute Joaillerie pieces unveiled at the Chopard boutique at Harrods.

The Disney Princess Collection by Chopard will be shown exclusively at Harrods until January with all of these one-off pieces available for sale.

Enjoy the photos below!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chopard, Harrods and © Sandra Bauknecht

The 26th Biennale des Antiquaires runs from 14th September to the 23rd at the Grand Palais in Paris and alongside the world’s most exclusive antique and art dealers are ten of the most desirable jewelers including Boucheron, Chanel, Cartier, Chanel, Dior, Harry Winston, Piaget, Van Cleef and Arpels, and for the first time ever Bulgari and from China Wallace Chan.

All of these houses create their most refined jewels for this event which is the most important show of its kind. One collection has already caught my eye: “Couture Précieuse” by Piaget with which the famous jeweler renews its homage to feminine beauty and celebrates its second participation in the Biennale des Antiquaires. Once again, Piaget affirms its style with strength and elegance, dressing women in watches and jewelry that are as spectacular as they are exceptional, epitomising the veritable secrets of seduction.

My dream piece: The laces inspired cuff watch in white gold and diamonds sculpts the wrist like a wasp waist. The Fine Jewelry laces, some set with brilliant-cut diamonds and other with baguette-cut diamonds, cross over and intertwine. An ode to elegance, the beauty of this piece reveals another treasure – a watch enabling its wearer to check the time discreetly on the inside of the wrist – another expression of Haute Couture refinement.

Couture Précieuse Exceptional cuff watch Radiant Laces Inspiration.

Discreet lecture of time inside the wrist. Crafted in 18K white gold.
Case and integrated clasp set with 26 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.8 ct). 
Bracelet set 288 baguette-cut diamonds (13.8 cts) and 85 brilliant-cut (approx. 9.2 cts). 
Silvered dial. Piaget 56P quartz movement. High Jewellery expertise. Ref. G0A38200 Couture

When a piece of Piaget jewelry or a watch is finally finished, it is the result of hundreds of hours of development and execution by Piaget’s master jewelers. Each piece can therefore be considered unique, because it is made by the hands of men whose unique masterpieces can never attain this level of perfection in an absolutely repeatable manner. See for yourself:

Assembling the gold link.

Diamonds-setting on the gold links.

Final details.

I am invited to the Biennale des Antiquaires, so stay tuned for some amazing photos in September!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Piaget, © Collection Grand Palais/François Tomasi