Sandra‘s Closet

Celebrating the FIFA World Cup in Brazil this summer, many luxury brands are launching special edition pieces. Here are the best ones…

Louis Vuitton is taking part for the second time. After a first appearance on the football field in 2010 in South Africa, the Louis Vuitton case, specially designed to carry the famous trophy, will be on July 13th, the final day of the Cup, in the stadium of Maracana in Rio of Janeiro.

Paying tribute to this year’s host nation for the Fifa World Cup, Bvlgari launches the new Octo Bi-Retro Brazil in a 50-piece limited edition.

Donatella Versace has turned to the FIFA World Cup for inspiration in style and created a special t-shirt that combines the passions of football with the vivid iconography of the Versace DNA. A brand new Versace baroque print is created using the colors of a Brazilian carnival, decorated with repeated images of footballs and flowers. The T-shirt, in silk satin for her and cotton jersey for him, is available in selected boutiques now.

MCM has launched the limited edition ‘München Cute Monsters’ collection. Drawing on the vibrancy of Brazilian culture and the festivity of the ultimate football tournament on the planet, the collection features the two pop art characters Viktor & Viktoria as MCM’s monster mascots for the games.

TO SHOP THE MCM ‘München Cute Monsters’ COLLECTION, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

A rare enamel and diamond wristwatch designed by Bvlgari in 1965 was sold on June 4th at Christie’s in London from a private collection. This extraordinary sale, tripling the estimate, has set a new world record price for a Bvlgari snake watch at an auction.

Enamel & diamond snake watch, by Bvlgari, circa 1965

The iconic piece, estimated between $300.780 and $417.750 fetched more than $ 1 Million, changing hands for the final price of $1.107.038. The Roman jeweler, today part of the LVMH Group, celebrates its 130th anniversary this year. The important achievement at Christie’s is testament to the investment value Bvlgari jewelry has, now for over a century.

Serpenti Watch
Quartz movement. 40 mm 18-ct pink gold case, dial and double-spiral bracelet set with brilliant-cut diamonds and turquoises. Eyes in turquoises. SPP40D2GD2T.2T

Since their first introduction as wristwatches in the 1940s, the Serpenti creations became the icons of Bvlgari’s creativity. As the years went by, eclectic reinterpretations in tune with major trends and prestigious endorsements consolidated their status of brand icons.

No leader of the ancient world is more closely associated with the snake than Cleopatra. Strongly intertwined to the Roman Empire through her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, when she first arrived in Rome in 46 BC, the cheering crowd could admire her beauty enhanced through the coiled gold snake bracelets that were adorning her body.
Almost 2000 years later, in the 1960s, Elizabeth Taylor could not resist to ask her favourite jeweller in Rome at via Condotti 10, to create especially for her a Serpenti bracelet, that she was wearing on the set of Cleopatra, as the new queen of the Nile (see photo in the first collage).

Serpenti Watch
Quartz movement. 40 mm 18-ct white gold case, dial and double-spiral bracelet set with brilliant-cut diamonds and onyx. Eyes in onyx SPW40D2GD2O.2T

I am a huge fan of the Serpenti watches and cannot wait to finally have one on my wrist…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bvlgari

Launched in 2012, Burberry‘s THE BRITAIN watch has been a bestseller since then. Designed by the house’s Creative Director Christopher Bailey, the design evoke the look of the brand’s most iconic piece, the famous Burberry trench coat. A celebration of innovation and craftsmanship, The Britain is a modern, elegant collection of watches for men and women.

The Burberry booth at the Baselworld 2014 booth was of course one of the most advanced ones at the fair. The house is extremely successful with their social media campaigns.

Designed in Britain and crafted in Switzerland, each watch features a distinctive octagonal face with details inspired by Burberry heritage, including D-ring shaped bezels and an iconic trench coat colour palette.

My favorite model: THE BRITAIN BBY1400 38MM DIAMOND BEZEL
38mm stainless steel case, set with 124 diamonds (0.68 ct ), Swiss Made Quartz movement, Trench alligator strap

This year, The Britain is inspired in new ways. Introduced during Baselworld 2014, THE BRITAIN LIMITED EDITION TRENCH CERAMIC features a new design in smooth trench-coloured ceramic combined with trench-hued 18K gold in a precious series of just 20 individually numbered pieces for women with automatic movements.

Available from Burberry.com, selected Burberry stores and selected retailers worldwide from April 2014.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Burberry and © Sandra Bauknecht

During Baselworld 2014, I discovered an Italian watch brand that has extremely impressed me with their innovative designs. Apply a strap to an 18th century pocket watch, allowing it to be worn as a wristwatch: this is the simple idea behind GaGà Milano.

In 2004, the brilliant creativity of Ruben Tomella brought to life what was then to become the phenomenon of the next ten years. The name itself “gagà”, a well-known Milanese expression, refers to a man who loves to dress extravagantly, but with care. This idea led to the creation of those iconic watches that are all sharing common characteristics like the chronometric second hand at 12, which give the design its own identity. In the meantime, accessories such as sunglasses, bags, wallets and charms have joined the GaGà family.

It was a real pleasure meeting Ruben Tomella in person. Now, I am the very happy owner of a beautiful GaGà Milano watch in rose gold with purple dial and strap that is matching my new GaGà Milano sunglasses.

MANUALE THIN 46mm
5091.02 VT Rose gold plated case, 7,5 mm thickness, quartz watch, leather strap

During Baselworld, it is of course time for novelties again and some of my favorites you can enjoy below:

MANUALE FANCY EDITION
GW 29 FE White gold case, multicolor sapphire, black diamonds, rubber strap
(diamonds 5cts, sapphire 12cts)
LIMITED EDITION 29 pieces

MANUALE DIAMANTE GOLD 40mm
GR 49 BK LADY Rose gold case, black diamonds (11cts), black alligator strap
LIMITED EDITION 49 pieces.

MANUALE DIAMANTE GOLD 40mm
G199 08 LADY rose gold case 18ct, quartz watch, white diamonds, chocolate croco print strap
LIMITED EDITION 199 pieces

LAS VEGAS 48mm
5010 LV 01 Stainless steel case, manual winding movement, aged leather strap

GaGà Milano has currently opened 8 stores all over the world: four in Tokyo, one in Osaka, one in Hawaii, one in the center of Milan, in Corso Venezia 8 and a new store in Beverly Hills.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of GaGà Milano and © Sandra Bauknecht

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

The Swatch Pastry Chefs Collection is inspired by sweet flavors and treats from your local candy shop. Featuring eye-popping and tantalizing designs for the wrist, they’re almost good enough to eat! From macaroons to waffles, they are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

A new edition comes from no other than extraordinary pastry chef and Maître de chocolate from Zurich Sara Hochuli has created this special New Gent DREAMCAKE. Inspired by her love for Japan, it’s decorated with a rose bow and cherry blossoms, has a cake knife and a fork to tell time on the dial, and the rose strap features a delicate pink flower on the rose loop.

It comes in a special packaging that looks like Sara’s creations and she has included a recipe for one of her cakes. Try it – it’s all sweetness and delight!

Don’t miss this delicious opportunity. Limited to 5678 pieces.
Pastry Chefs Special DREAMCAKE, in stores now for CHF 120.00.

If you are in Zurich, I also recommend a visit to her cafe, Les Gourmandises de Miyoko.

LoL, Sandra

© SWATCH LTD. 2014 , ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: SWISS WATCHES, Courtesy of Sara Hochuli

Every year since 2001, Valentine’s Day has marked a special rendezvous between Blancpain and women, for which the manufacture annually introduces a watch featuring an unusual interpretation of love, that lives up to expectations in a charmingly subtle manner also in 2014.

Being a forerunner, the manufacture in Le Brassus has been offering ladies’ watches exclusively driven by mechanical movements ever since 1930. The iconic Blancpain Calibre 1150 chosen for this special model is equipped with a silicon balance-spring that is non-magnetic and maintains a more constant rate over time. Issued in a 99-piece limited edition, this 33 mm-diameter watch is (RRP CHF 18.000) fitted with a white leather strap highlighting the shimmering visual beauty of the dial. Delicately yours.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Blancpain

To celebrate the Christmas season, Swatch has created “Red Knit”. The strap is decorated with classic winter images; snowmen, snowflakes, a white rocking horse and snow-covered pines. The hand-knitted silhouette evokes the warmth and pleasures of winter nights by a crackling fire, with the fragrance of pine trees and woodsmoke.

The limited edition watch comes in a beautiful gift box and for those extra-cold nights, there’s a little something extra inside: an overly cute mini hot water bottle!

Limited to 14.999 numbered pieces, available now for CHF 120.00. What a lovely gift idea!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swatch

Swatch and post-modern pop star Mika have collaborated for the latest Swatch Art Specials, KUKULAKUKI and KUKULAKUKU. Swatch invited the singer to create “art for the wrist”. Like the Swiss watch brand itself, Mika turned 30 this year.

Born in Beirut and raised in Paris and London, he developed two different designs in collaboration with his sister Yasmine, both of which express his idea of the watch as a totemic object. Mika ‘s creative approach always begins with a story. For this project he imagined a totem pole/watch appearing on an unknown planet. The inhabitants are at first puzzled, then terrified of the alien object, which they come to worship. When it fails to give them what they want, they chop it down, and all that remains of the totem pole is the watch itself. Mika’s two timepieces feature a simple, bold pattern on the strap, with an image suggesting a traditional African tribal mask on each dial.

GZ287S KUKULAKUKI
Model: Gent
Dial: multicolored prints
Case: solid mat blue plastic
Strap: red silicone with multicolored prints on front and back
Available in a strictly limited edition of 999 pieces.

SUOZ171 KUKULAKUKU
Model: New Gent
Dial: multicolored prints
Case: solid mat dark blue plastic
Strap: blue silicone with multicolored prints on front and back
CHF 70.00

Mika speaks with great enthusiasm of his venture with Swatch: “I don’t come from a design background, which is why I have so much fun designing stuff and why I love collaborating with people. Doing this was fun, because for me the process is exactly the same as making music. I don’t see any difference between the two.”

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swatch

Swatch has created a beautiful Mother’s Day gift set that consists of five Matryoshka dolls and three Swatch watches hidden within. These famous Russian dolls tell the story of three generations; mother, daughter & grand-daughter. Look inside to find three brightly coloured, floral watch designs (New Gent, Gent and Lady) wrapped around the ladies waists.
The set is available for CHF 200.00.

Happy Mother’s Day means more than flowers and gifts. It means saying thank you. But in case you are in need of a last minute surprise, CLICK HERE TO SHOP A NET-A-PORTER VIRTUAL GIFT CARD that will be delivered directly one second later to your mom’s inbox.

Happy Mother’s Day to my fabulous Mom. I love you very much!!!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swatch