Sandra‘s Closet

The padlock-shaped Kelly watch appears in a whole new light expressing its free-spirited attitude.

On a slender metal bracelet, set with diamonds or worn as a sautoir, the Kelly watch born in 1975, is reinvented in a light- hearted way. This mischievious, daring and fashionable jewellery watch reveals new facets of its femininity in motion. Inspired by the emblematic handbag designed by Robert Dumas in the 1930s, its ideally sized padlock case lends itself to new ways of being worn. The clean-cut lines and original gemsetting approaches reaffirm the rigorous yet playful style of this Hermès watchmaking icon.

An elegant rose gold or steel bracelet composed of elaborate metalwork embraces the wrist in a delightfully companionable manner. Its links pick up the design of the legendary four-studded clasp serving to secure and open the padlock.

Adorned with diamonds or fine regular striations, the case beautifully frames a dial in natural white mother-of-pearl on the rose gold models and in spangled white lacquer on the steel models. The gemset watches feature a diamond at 12 o’clock, matched by studded hour-markers, echoing the decoration on the clasp. The distinctively daring Kelly watch plays with complete freedom on its pluralistic nature.

I am completely obsessed with this watch and had to share it with you!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès
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The Nantucket watch has been forming solid attachments for almost 30 years. Its story, all about links, began in 1991, when iconoclastic Hermès designer Henri d’Origny boldly sketched the outlines of a companion to the Cape Cod watch, an equally distinctive model named Nantucket.

This assertive timepiece featured a «rectangle within a rectangle», forming an unprecedented case inspired by the anchor chain links of the Chaîne d’ancre bracelet, an Hermès classic imagined by Robert Dumas in 1938.

Nantucket’s story continues today with the Chaîne d’ancre, evoking its early days. This model offers a new take on the iconic link, which merges seamlessly into a light and supple steel or rose gold bracelet. The faithful hours and minutes hands sweep over numerals whose font is also inspired by
the Chaîne d’ancre universe.

The case of the Nantucket is crafted from gold or steel in the Hermès watchmaking workshops, and freely adorned with diamonds. Light plays across the sandblasted silver-plated dial itself thanks to a sprinkle setting, or sparkles brightly in a jewellery setting around a mother-of-pearl dial. With a light and natural touch, Nantucket interweaves its own codes of rebellious elegance.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès

«Once upon a time, a clumsy glass blower made a fortuitous discovery when he dropped a sliver of copper into melted glass. He decided to keep the resulting material, which he christened “aventurine”, using it to create enchanting objects.»

This year, blue watches have been trending like never before. And I found my dream model that brings some sparkle into your daily life: PARMIGIANI FLEURIER‘s Tonda 1950 Galaxy.

In the Val-de-Travers, there is virtually no light polluting the night sky, and nothing obstructing the millions of stars it contains. This feeling of vertigo was the inspiration behind the creation of the Tonda 1950 Galaxy. To create the colour of the night sky on its dial, the Manufacture dial-makers made use of a material created in 18th-century Murano: aventurine glass. It contains copper inclusions which give it an unmistakable sparkle, like infinite particles of gold, on which the rose gold appliques stand out beautifully.

The case — also made from rose gold — and the bezel, both set with diamonds, form a halo of light. On the crown, a milky white opal, like a precious miniature nebula, provides the finishing touch.
The Tonda 1950 Galaxy is driven by the PF702 proprietary movement, decorated with Côtes de Genève and bevelled bridges. This self-winding mechanical movement, and the beautiful finishes which are Parmigiani Fleurier’s signature, can be admired through the watch’s sapphire case-back. Available for CHF 23.900.

And great news is that this beautiful model is now also available with a solid rose gold bracelet for CHF 39.000 (my favorite).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Parmigiani Fleurier 

After today’s earlier post about the launch event of the new Royal Oak Frosted Gold by Audemars Piguet in Florence, I would like to show you this beauty in detail. For me, it was love at first sight. Since quite some time, I have been wishing for a rose gold watch but have not discovered the one I truly liked. Now I have found my match.

The new Royal Oak Frosted Gold from 2016 interpreted by Carolina Bucci.

A design icon – the Royal Oak from the ’70s created by Jacqueline Dimier

Celebrating 40 years of a women’s design icon, this contemporary timepiece is available in both white gold and pink gold and has been created in collaboration with Florentine jewellery designer, Carolina Bucci whom I met in her studio in Italy for an amazing interview that will be published shortly. Just like the Royal Oak Frosted Gold, I was immediately taken by her style, grace and sophistication. Moreover, she is a warm-hearted person and it felt like we have been knowing each other for ages.

Having fun at work: Carolina Bucci and Jacqueline Dimier

The original Royal Oak was designed by Gérald Genta in 1972 und reinterpreted by Jacqueline Dimier in 1976 as the first version for women. It was a first task when she joined the company in 1975. Rather than play down the masculine looks of the Royal Oak, Jacqueline Dimier shifted the approach and played to its strong character, adapting its handsome proportions to obtain a lighter, sleeker look.

In 2016, the Le Brassus Manufacture honours the style and character of another female designer, Carolina Bucci, who has contributed to the Royal Oak legacy.

The launch of the Royal Oak Frosted Gold enriches Audemars Piguet’s tradition of experimenting with jewelry techniques. Its defining feature resides in its shimmering sparkle reminiscent of diamond dust, which in turn comes from a surface treatment process rooted in an ancient gold hammering technique, also called the Florentine technique which is an iconic style element used by Carolina Bucci for her eponymous jewelry line.

By beating the gold with a diamond tipped tool, it creates tiny indentations on the surface that give a sparkle effect similar to that of precious stones. After many months of trial and error, Audemars Piguet’s experts developed it into a horological craft suited to the unique case and bracelet construction of the Royal Oak.

One of the challenges for Audemars Piguet’s craftsmen was for example that the original gradating bracelet construction demanded that the order in which the rest of the finishing (polishing and satin finish) is executed be reconsidered.

It took many weeks between both parties, Bucci’s Florentine craftsmen and Audemars Piguet’s manufacture to alter the surface of the gold in such a way that it sparkles when catching the light, while retaining the softness and flexibility of the Royal Oak’s bracelet. It is a very delicate alchemy to operate: nothing is added, nothing is removed, but the watch is transformed.

Today Audemars Piguet merges Jacqueline Dimier’s timeless design with Carolina Bucci’s contemporary approach, marking a dazzling link between modern horology and contemporary jewellery: The Royal Oak Frosted Gold, when a watch icon turns 40 years young!

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

ROYAL OAK FROSTED GOLD – 37 mm (MY FAVORITE!)
Ref: 15454OR.GG.1259OR.01

CASE
Hammered 18-carat pink gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, water-resistant to 50 m.
DIAL
Silver-toned dial with “Grande Tapisserie” pattern, pink gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.
BRACELET
Hammered 18-carat pink gold bracelet with AP folding clasp.
FUNCTIONS
Hours – Minutes – Centre seconds – Date

ROYAL OAK FROSTED GOLD – 33 mm
Ref: 67653OR.GG.1263OR.01

CASE
Hammered 18-carat pink gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal, water-resistant to 50 m.
DIAL
Silver-toned dial with “Grande Tapisserie” pattern, pink gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.
BRACELET
Hammered 18-carat pink gold bracelet with AP folding clasp.
FUNCTIONS
Hours – Minutes – Date

ROYAL OAK FROSTED GOLD – 37 mm
Ref: 15454BC.GG.1259BC.01

CASE
Hammered 18-carat white gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, water-resistant to 50 m.
DIAL
Rhodium-toned dial with “Grande Tapisserie” pattern, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.
BRACELET
Hammered 18-carat white gold bracelet with AP folding clasp.
FUNCTIONS
Hours – Minutes – Centre seconds – Date

ROYAL OAK FROSTED GOLD – 33 mm
Ref: 67653BC.GG.1263BC.01

CASE
Hammered 18-carat white gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal, water-resistant to 50 m.
DIAL
Rhodium-toned dial with “Grande Tapisserie” pattern, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.
BRACELET
Hammered 18-carat white gold bracelet with AP folding clasp.
FUNCTIONS
Hours – Minutes – Date

I am so in love… hope you will like it, too!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Audemars Piguet

This summer, fashion designers all around the globe have been showing off their origami skills, crafting skirts that ripple with razor-sharp pleats. Best played out in shimmering metallics as seen at Proenza Schouler, cut to midi length, this style has felt the freshest to me. Don’t you think that the color combination of black, white, rose gold and purple is just a dream?!

My look: Foil-paneled pleated cloqué maxi skirt by Proenza Schouler, black cropped knitted sweater and Dance metallic ballet slippers, both by Saint Laurent, purple pashmina scarf by Christian Dior, bar cuff in rose gold by Balenciaga, nylon python print satchel with bows by Prada and Manuale thin 46mm rose gold plated watch by GaGà Milano.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

During the last days I showed you so much from my recent road trip through the US. But the country I live in, Switzerland, has a lot to offer as well. Before I left two weeks ago, Pomellato celebrated its store opening with a nice cocktail reception high above Zurich’s rooftops.

Can you imagine that this terrace (see photos below) is never open to the public? It is a real treasure hidden on top of the building.

If you visit the boutique, check out their latest collection: Sabbia by Pomellato in rose gold with brown diamonds, diamonds and black diamonds. So beautiful!

LoL, Sandra

Sabbia Collection
Rings starting at € 1980.-, Bracelet € 9845.-

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht