Sandra‘s Closet

This year, Hanhart is launching a new addition to the house’s legendary chonographs: The Primus Desert Pilot, which sports a trendy outdoor look with a sand-blasted case and a sand-coloured dial and fabric strap.

Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2012, the Swiss-German watch brand is known for its precision-perfect and absolutely reliable instrument watches designed for use in the air, on the land and on the sea.

PRIMUS Desert Pilot

Movement: HAN3809 modified automatic chronograph movement (bicompax), based on the Valjoux 7750 calibre; 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz; 28 jewels; rotor with a skeletonised Hanhart logo; power reserve of min. 42 hours

Functions: Small seconds at 9 o’clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, date display at 6 o’clock

Case: Sand-blasted stainless steel; anodised aluminium red reset button; fluted bezel with inlaid red marking; convex, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass; screwed-down, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass case back; large screw in crown; flexible lugs; diameter 44 mm, height 15 mm; water-resistant to 10 bar/100 m

Dial: Sand-coloured; with black Super-LumiNova®-coated, luminous Arabic numeral, index marks and hands

Strap: Fabric strap; folding clasp with inlaid red marking (anodised aluminium) made from sand-blasted stainless steel

Inspired by the desire for freedom and adventure, the Primus Desert Pilot highlights the independence of the wearer. Available end of summer for CHF 5950 / € 4250.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Hanhart

Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen opened its first US Flagship Boutique in New York City this month – with 3,000-square-foot the largest of its kind worldwide.

“The opening of this Flagship Boutique in New York City marks a major milestone for IWC Schaffhausen,” says CEO Georges Kern. “It not only reflects the success of the brand, but also pays tribute to the home country of the company’s founder and to our American heritage. We are looking forward to welcoming our customers at this marvelous location at Madison Avenue and inviting them to experience IWC’s spirit and philosophy.”
In fact, IWC founder Florentine Ariosto Jones, an American entrepreneur who launched the brand in 1868, was born only a few miles away from the company’s new landmark.

Today, customers can explore the brand’s watch families – Aquatimer, Pilot’s Watches, Portofino, Ingenieur, Da Vinci, and Portuguese at this outstanding bi-level boutique.

I would like to invite you to check out IWC’s newly launched NYC Globetrotter Guide that offers lots of insider tips for the city that never sleeps. Just click on the highlighted text.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of IWC

Exclusive on Sandra’s Closet, your Baselworld 2012 preview: The Austrian company Swarovski will present their first collection entirely intended for men. After launching the first collection of men’s jewelry and accessories in 2010, it seems to be the next obvious step.

The new line which is called Piazza Grande will be officially presented in the end of the week. Here is your sneak preview. For a closer look, just click on the tiny pictures. Prices start at CHF 900.- and go up to CHF 1350.-.

I have to admit that it took me some time to get used to the Swarovski crystals on the dial which is quite an unusual look for a man. But this is obviously the emancipation of the stronger sex!

LoL, Sandra

A fresh colourful collection of ten watch designs from Swatch: the New Gent Lacquered collection combines super-sleek and lacquered surfaces with a fabulous selection of fashion-forward colours.

The deconstructed dials of each of these ten Swatch designs with the inner mechanisms left fully exposed is ensuring that any wrist wearing them remains at the centre of attention.
With the returning 80’s trend, a Swatch is a must!

In stores starting February 1st, 2012. Available for CHF 75 each.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swatch

SIHH is the perfect time of the year to plan a neat luxurious shopping list. And if you had plans to add a Cartier watch to your collection of accessories, then checkout those new eye candies.

Tank Anglaise (Photo: ©Cartier)

Following in the footsteps of the Tank Américaine and Tank Française, the Tank Anglaise was a logical progression for the house Cartier. Distinguished and sophisticated, its design integrates the bracelet and the crown into the case. The Tank Anglaise continues the 90-year heritage of the Cartier Tank line. The watches come in three different case sizes in rose, yellow or white gold with a selection of diamond-set versions available for each gold colour.

Tank Anglaise watch medium model, rose gold, diamonds

CARTIER’S NEW HIGH JEWELRY WATCHES

Secret Watch

Promenade d’une Panthère watch, Calibre 9603 MC

Collection Le Cirque Animalier de Cartier
Montre Décor Coccinelles – Ladybug Watch

Collection Le Cirque Animalier de Cartier
Montre Décor Abeilles – Bee Watch

Secret Watch Décor Phoenix

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Being an ambassadrice for Roger Dubuis, I was so excited to visit their booth and to explore the new VELVET collection that is inspired by the world of the Diva. With those stunning new watches, Roger Dubuis demonstrates its commitment to melding fine watchmaking with the world of haute joaillerie, a true highlight of the SIHH 2012.

At the Roger Dubuis booth: French actor Tomer Sisley with me

Please enjoy my favourite pieces of the VELVET collection by Roger Dubuis below.

LoL, Sandra

VELVET
Amethysts and Spinels

Case: 36mm, Titanium black DLC / Bezel set with 46 amethysts (0.74 cts approx.) / Lugs and decor set with 40 spinels (0.50 ct approx.)

Dial: Black / Brush centre / White ROGER DUBUIS transfer / Satin sunburst exterior / Black Roman numerals transfers / Purple filet / Black Roman numerals appliques at 6 and 12 o’clock

Water resistance: 3 BAR (30m)

Strap: Black satin – finish fabric

Clasp: Black DLC / steel adjustable folding buckle

Certifications: Poinçon de Genève – Certification COSC

RD821
Self – winding mechanical movement, 11•••’’’, 33 jewels, finely adjusted in five positions, rhodium – plated, “Côtes de Genève” decoration.

Specific features
Hours and minutes

Number of parts: 168

Height: 3.43 mm

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)

Power reserve: 48 hours

Production: 188 pieces

VELVET
Diamonds in white gold

Case: 36mm, white gold / Bezel and decor set with diamonds

Dial: Silver / Brush centre / Black ROGER DUBUIS transfer / Satin sunburst exterior / Black Roman numerals transfers / Grey transfer / White gold Roman numerals appliques at 6 and 12 o’clock

Water resistance: 3 BAR (30m)

Strap: Black satin – finish fabric

Clasp: White gold adjustable folding buckle set with diamonds

Diamonds: 100 (86 on the case and 14 on the clasp)

Carats: 1.77 cts approx. (1.66 cts on the case and 0.11 ct on the clasp)

Certifications: Poinçon de Genève – Certification COSC

Carats: 9 cts approx. (2.93 on the case, 1.03 cts on the dial and 5.03 cts on the strap)

RD821
Self – winding mechanical movement, 11•••’’’, 33 jewels, finely adjusted in five positions, rhodium – plated, “Côtes de Genève” decoration.

Specific features
Hours and minutes

Number of parts: 172

Height: 3.43 mm

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)

Power reserve: 48 hours

Production: No limitation

VELVET
Jewelry in pink gold

Case: 36mm, pink gold / Bezel and decor set with diamonds

Dial: Silver / Brush centre / Black ROGER DUBUIS transfer / Satin sunburst exterior / Black Roman numerals transfers / Pink gold filet / Pink gold Roman numerals appliques at 6 and 12 o’clock

Water resistance: 3 BAR (30m)

Strap: Pink gold set with diamonds

(196: 16.5 cts approx.)

Lenght: 150 mm

Diamonds: 262 (66 on the case, 196 on the strap)

Carats: 2.98 cts approx. (1.33 on the case, 1.65 on the strap)

Certifications: Poinçon de Genève – Certification COSC

RD821
Self – winding mechanical movement, 11•••’’’, 33 jewels, finely adjusted in five positions, rhodium – plated, “Côtes de Genève” decoration.

Specific features
Hours and minutes

Number of parts: 172

Height: 3.43 mm

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)

Power reserve: 48 hours

Production: No limitation

Photos: © Roger Dubuis. All rights reserved. © Sandra Bauknecht

I just got back from the SIHH (the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) in Geneva which is a truly exclusive event. The world’s leading luxury watch brands are presenting their newest collection those days. Stay tuned for the upcoming posts on what has caught my eye. Let’s get started today with one of my favourites: IWC Schaffhausen!

IWC Schaffhausen gets off to a powerful start in 2012: the year of the Pilot’s Watch.

With five new models, the TOP GUN collection establishes itself as an independent formation within the IWC Pilot’s Watch family.

The year’s high-flyer is the TOP GUN Miramar: a tribute to the place in California where the myth of the elite pilots was born. In the 89365 calibre, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Miramar (Ref.3880) is equipped with one of the most advanced and robust chronograph movements available.

The high-quality Top Gun engraving on the titanium case back is a tribute to the world’s best pilots and an indication that this is the technological highlight of IWC’s Pilot’s Watch family.

And two Pilot’s Watches featuring many of fine watchmaking’s greatest achievements prepare for take off:

The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN (Ref. 5029) comes with a wealth of complex technological features, including a perpetual calendar with a four-digit year display, moon phase display and 7-day power reserve and…

…the Spitfire Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month (Ref. 3791) combines tasteful design with the art of watchmaking at its finest. It is the first IWC Pilot’s Watch to show the date and month digitally, in the form of four large numerals.

Enjoy those beautiful mood photos. For further information, I invite you to visit the IWC homepage, by clicking here.

The military-style design and IWC’s long tradition in the manufacture of so-called deck watches inspired IWC Schaffhausen during its creation of the TOP GUN Miramar line. The desired visual effect is achieved – among other things – by the shimmering metallic grey of the ceramic case, the beige of the hands and chapter ring and the green textile strap.

The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN‘s imposing ceramic case is a repository of some of watchmaking’s greatest-ever achievements.

Launched in 2002, the Big Pilot’s Watch (Ref. 5009) has maintained its high-flying trajectory ever since. Its IWC-manufactured 51111- calibre movement – the largest automatic movement from IWC – contains all the features that have proved their worth in the long history of mechanical watches from IWC Schaffhausen.

The city ring on the Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer (Ref. 3262) bears the names of 23 places around the globe, each of which represents one time zone.

The Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII (Ref. 3265) is available, among other things, with the newly developed stainlesssteel bracelet featuring a folding clasp with fine-adjustment clasp.

Since its initial launch in 2006, the Spitfire Chronograph has enjoyed increasing popularity. Now, with the slate-coloured dial, it has taken on a chic new face.

Gentlemen, discover your inner pilot and enjoy those beauties on your wrist. You will surely have the ladies’ attention.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: ©PHOTOPRESS/IWC

Seeking inspiration this Christmas? Looking for something truly special that your beloved one will always remember? A special piece of jewelry or those one-of-a-kind Altiplano watches by Piaget are a gift that everyone’s guaranteed to love. One detail that makes them so special is the enamel orchid motif on the dial.

The craftsmanship of enamelling is difficult to master, and the artisans possessing such skills are an increasingly rare breed. With precision and technique, successive layers of crushed raw enamel are applied and baked, increasing both the intensity and the purity of the colours. Although a highly risky process, after over 20 separate firings in an oven, the enamel image is set forever, and its colours retain their radiance down through the ages.

See for yourself the one-of-a-kind works of art of the enamel specialist combined with those of the Piaget watchmakers:

Piaget Altiplano watch, 38 mm. Case in 18K white gold set with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.7 ct.). Dial in enamel orchid motif. Manufacture Piaget 430P ultra-thin hand-wound mechanical movement. Unique piece.

Boutique exclusivity

As those beauties are unique pieces and boutique exclusives, you will have to visit the Piaget store nearest to you to explore them. For a store locator, please click here.

For my Zurich based readers, I recommend a visit to the new store on Bahnhofstr. 38. that opened its doors last Thursday. Please see photos below.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Piaget

Swatch has teamed up with the American designer Jeremy Scott for the second time to create a range of five new watches. Scott’s latest designs for the Swiss brand are typically bold and provocative – just as we know his eponymous fashion creations. These Swatch timepieces therefore demand attention, ensuring anyone wearing them stands out from the crowd for all the right reasons. Today is not the day for minimalists!

SUOZ121 SWATCH PORTRAIT

Model: New Gent
Dial: solid black with the portrait printed on the glass
Case: solid black plastic
Strap: solid black silicone
Special: silver picture frame case guard

CHF 70.-

GZ261 MELTED MINUTES

Model: Gent Original
Dial: transparent plastic with melted effect
Case: transparent light brown plastic
Strap: transparent light brown plastic

CHF 60.-

GZ251 SWATCH PUNK

Model: Gent Original
Dial: solid green with black hands
Case: plastic with leopard patterns
Strap: silicone with printed leopard patterns and 6 yellow loops, wraps twice around the wrist

CHF 60.-

GZ252 DOUBLE VISION

Model: Gent Original
Dial: white with red twirl effect
Case: black plastic
Strap: black plastic
Special: double watch cases and special packaging

CHF 100.-

MX001S HYPNOTIC HEART

Model: Special edition
Dial: white with twirl effect and roman numerals
Case: 12cm heart-shaped hanging on a black silk entwining necklace
Special: limited and numbered to 777 pieces

CHF 390.-

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swatch

“Inspired by the glittering realm of Monaco’s legendary Monte Carlo Casino, La Monégasque collection is crafted with the Player in mind—the passionate, elegant, audacious individual who has mastered the high-stakes world. The timepieces in this daring collection utilize Roger Dubuis’ latest generation of cutting-edge movements, each respecting the brand’s grand aesthetic traditions while fulfilling the exacting standards demanded by the Poinçon de Genève. On each watch’s face, a dramatic and stimulating world artfully takes shape. And within each casing, a gorgeously calculated mechanism comes alive. Venture where captivating horology meets a flamboyant, bold lifestyle … where the gamer presides at the head of life’s table.”

The amazing invitation with a countdown clock.

To celebrate the launch of its new collection „La Monégasque“, Roger Dubuis had the pleasure to welcome more than 200 guests from all over the world in Monaco at the famous Hotel de Paris on Thursday night. The beautiful watches are inspired by Monte Carlo’s elegance and style so that the luxurious Swiss brand could not conceive any better place than the glamourous Mediterranean seaside resort.

Georges Kern, CEO of Roger Dubuis, greeted on the red carpet  international style icon Daphne Guinness, gallery owner Alex Dellal and renowned shoe designer Christian Louboutin among others.

When Haute Horlogerie meets glamour, it surely evokes a night of magic. For more information on the collection including 8 pieces of which some are limited, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Alex Dellal and Georges Kern

Christian Louboutin framed by Daphne Guinness to the right and me to the left

Christian Louboutin sported his new shoe collection for men

One of the evening’s highlights was the outstanding performance of Curtis Stigers.

Alberto Cibrario, Leona Sigrist and Suryia Hill with me

Photos: © Tony Barson/Getty Images for Roger Dubuis and © Sandra Bauknecht