Sandra‘s Closet

A Return to Time: Notes from Watches and Wonders Geneva

There are few places where time feels as tangible as at Watches and Wonders Geneva. For one day, everything revolves around it, interpreted through craftsmanship, design, and an almost obsessive attention to detail.

This year, the fair revealed more than technical innovation. It signaled a shift in mood, subtle, but unmistakable.

Patek Philippe New Models 2026

BVLGARI celebrates old-school glamour with its newest Serpenti watches.

There is a clear return to old-school glamour and with it, a strong retro influence. Not nostalgia in its simplest form, but a deliberate reinterpretation of the past. Vintage codes are everywhere: softened silhouettes, intricate bracelets, and, most notably, the reappearance of the secret watch.

These pieces conceal their dials beneath decorative covers, blurring the line between jewelry and timekeeping. They are intimate, almost private objects, designed to be discovered rather than displayed. It is a language that echoes the elegance of earlier decades, yet feels entirely contemporary in its execution.

At the same time, craftsmanship is moving back to the center of the conversation. Not just as a technical necessity, but as a form of artistic expression. The level of detail, the patience, and the human touch behind these pieces feels more important than ever.

One example that stayed with me came from CHANEL. A chess set, already sold and therefore no longer on display in its final form, was presented through prototypes. Each figure was meticulously crafted, with the Gabrielle Chanel silhouette wearing a tweed jacket, entirely set with diamonds, that emphasized the effect of the material. It was less an object and more a demonstration of what true craftsmanship can achieve: intricate, precise, and deeply intentional.

Audemars Piguet Etablisseurs Galets

At the same time, a structural shift within the industry is becoming increasingly visible. The market is stretching apart.

Van Cleef & Arpels is expanding its Jour Nuit collection with a new timepiece in honor of the Moon. Within the Midnight case, the watch features two overlapping complications: the first one animates the Jour/Nuit display, while the second one illustrates the actual Moon phase. 

BVLGARI

On one end, brands are leaning heavily into haute horlogerie, producing exceptional, highly complicated, and often extremely limited pieces. These watches are not simply products; they are statements of craftsmanship, created for collectors who value rarity as much as technical mastery. Prices reflect this shift, reaching levels that position these timepieces firmly within the realm of art and investment.

Celebrating 100 years of the Rolex Oyster with this beautiful and affordable Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 «Jubilee Edition».

On the other end, the more accessible segment remains present, but quieter, almost overshadowed by the spectacle of high-end innovation. The middle ground is thinning, and the contrast between the two extremes is becoming more pronounced.

A Testament to Métiers d’Art: Van Cleef & Arpels, with its latest Perlée Extraordinaire Fruits Enchantés collection, is capturing the ruby-red intensity of perfectly ripened raspberries.

Yet within this high-end focus, creativity is flourishing. Freed from the need to appeal to a broad audience, brands are allowing themselves to be more expressive, more daring, and more niche. Watchmaking, in this sense, is becoming increasingly cultural. These are no longer just instruments or even luxury goods, they are narratives, identities, and statements.

Collectors today are not simply buying watches; they are engaging with meaning.

Walking through the fair, it quickly becomes clear that the experience goes far beyond the watches themselves. Some booths are consistently extraordinary, fully immersive environments that tell their own story. Officine Panerai, known for its diving heritage, brought that world to life with a stand that felt like stepping into the depths.

Van Cleef & Arpels created something entirely different, a poetic garden, complete with a swing, where time seemed to slow down.

And Audemars Piguet offered a more introspective atmosphere, with a library-like setting that invited you to pause, reflect, and look closer.

I leaned into the spirit of the fair with a Moschino look, complete with a watch-shaped bag and a hat featuring a clock detail. A subtle nod to the theme of time, and one that, quite unexpectedly, drew a lot of attention throughout the day. I was frequently stopped, photographed, and even interviewed, an unusual but fitting part of the experience.

Yves Piaget with me (click here for a previous post from 2012).

Amidst all of this, it is often the quieter, more personal moments that stay the longest. Seeing Yves Piaget again was one of them. Having been for many years an ambassador for Piaget, it made the encounter feel all the more meaningful.

Relaunch of the Piaget cocktail ring collection, for which I hosted an private garden party in my house in 2013.

There was something genuinely special in being recognized, in that brief moment of familiarity within such a fast-moving environment. A small exchange, a shared memory, and somehow, it stays. I still have the Piaget rose.

Ulysse Nardin

And perhaps that is what defines the fair as much as the watches themselves. It is not just an industry event, it is a cultural moment, where craftsmanship meets storytelling, and where timepieces become part of a larger narrative.

I predict a huge success for the BVLGARI Octo Finissimo Watch in satin-polished 18 kt yellow gold case.

What remains after a full day is not simply a memory of products, but a clear impression:

The future of watchmaking may well lie in its past.

In craftsmanship over scale.
In rarity over ubiquity.
In intimacy over display.

And in the enduring desire to make time feel, once again, timeless.

Trying on Cartier‘s latest Bagnoire collection, that I am completely obsessed about.

Some of the most remarkable pieces deserve a closer look, and I’ll be returning to a few of them in more detail over the coming weeks.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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When Time Meets McDreamy: A TAG Heuer Moment in Geneva

Surrounded by some of the most extraordinary watches in the world… and yet, meeting McDreamy might have been the real highlight.

At Watches & Wonders in Geneva, where every brand competes to redefine time through design and innovation, it’s easy to get lost in the details, movements, materials, complications.

But some moments cut through all of that.

Meeting Patrick Dempsey, forever McDreamy from Grey’s Anatomy, was exactly that kind of moment. Effortless, charismatic, and completely at ease, he represents the spirit of TAG Heuer in a way that feels natural rather than staged.

And fittingly, the brand itself delivered one of the most compelling statements of this year’s fair. In a year dedicated to the chronograph, TAG Heuer revisited its most iconic model: the Monaco.

The new Monaco Evergraph feels bold and forward-looking, built around a completely reimagined movement that replaces traditional components with flexible structures, pushing precision and performance into new territory. It’s technical, architectural, almost futuristic. Co-developed with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, it brings a distinctly experimental edge to contemporary watchmaking.

Operating at 5 Hz with a 70-hour power reserve and COSC certification, it reflects a clear focus on precision and long-term reliability. Co-developed with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, the movement adds a layer of serious watchmaking credibility to its experimental edge, while the open-worked architecture reinforces its technical character.

Alongside it, the Monaco Chronograph takes a more restrained approach. Rooted in the original 1969 design, it refines the icon with sharper lines and improved ergonomics, now housed in a 39mm Grade 5 titanium case that feels both modern and wearable. Inside, the in-house Calibre TH20-11 delivers an 80-hour power reserve and a bi-compax layout inspired by the historic Calibre 11, while signature elements like the left-side crown remain intact.

Together, they capture what TAG Heuer does best: balancing heritage with innovation, without ever losing its identity.

And maybe that’s what made the moment with Dempsey feel so aligned. In a space defined by exceptional watches, it was presence, not just precision, that made it memorable.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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While you are reading this, I am at Watches & Wonders in Geneva and cannot wait to share all the amazing news with you concerning the newest watch launches. Let the get started with these beauties by CARTIER.

THE BAIGNOIRE WATCH MEETS THE CLOU DE PARIS

Through a jeweller’s eye, Cartier watchmakers have created an aesthetic enhanced by the emblematic Clou de Paris motif. This innovative adventure has allowed Cartier to push its creative boundaries through an unprecedented expression of its expertise. First appearing in 1958 and officially taking its name in 1973, the Baignoire watch has been defined by constant evolution but has always remained true to its original identity. In 2023, Cartier designed an unprecedented new edition with a bangle bracelet. Featuring the signature curves, the Cartier logo, and a winding crown adorned with a sapphire, the Baignoire codes are there for all to see. This new, original design makes for an emblematic oval-shaped jewellery watch and reflects the singularity of the Maison, which is always looking at creations through its jeweller’s eye.

A NEW EDITION OF THE BAIGNOIRE, INSPIRED BY CARTIER’S JEWELLERY HERITAGE

This year, the Maison is reinterpreting the Baignoire bangle model by adorning it with the Clou de Paris motif. Already part of the Maison’s stylistic repertoire by the start of the 1920s, the Clou de Paris has been a constant on Cartier creations, as demonstrated by the latest Baignoire Allongée watches and the Clash de Cartier collection. The creation of this motif represents specific craftsmanship enabling gold to be moulded while preserving the evenness of its shape and volume.

ADJUSTING THE OVAL SHAPE FOR THE CLOU DE PARIS MOTIF

From the bangle bracelet to the case and dial, the watch is now entirely adorned with the Clou de Paris motif. This sensorial motif adds rhythm and structure, magnifies volumes and creates a truly architectural geometry aesthetic, making for a playfully tactile surface. It’s crafted in monochrome gold to ensure seamless continuity between the bracelet and the dial. The proportions have been adjusted and reshaped to ensure that the motif fits the curves as closely as possible. Attention to detail can be seen in elements as intricate as the yellow gold push-buttons on the clasp, which blend into the curve of the bracelet.

THE COUP D’ÉCLAT

Cartier master jewellers give the piece all its lustre during the polishing phase. Carried out entirely by hand, this finishing stage requires the utmost precision in order to respect, and enhance, the relief and definition of the Clou de Paris motif.

AN ULTRA-PRECIOUS EDITION

Now more dazzling than ever, Cartier’s new diamond design on this edition represents a true technical feat of gemsetting. With its 100 brilliant-cut diamonds, the snow setting on the dial creates a changing play of light. On the case, Cartier has opted for an inverted setting for diamonds with a slightly less pronounced tip. Throughout the piece, the diamonds and the Clou de Paris motif create a harmony of volumes in relief. This is a watch that breaks the rules and captivates the imagination.

I am in love. And you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Cartier
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Rolls-Royce Unveils Project Nightingale – Where Couture Meets Engineering

With Project Nightingale, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars enters a new realm of ultra-luxury: a strictly limited, invitation-only Coachbuild collection of just 100 electric open-top masterpieces.

In the world of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Coachbuild represents the ultimate expression of automotive individuality, a modern revival of a historic craft where cars are commissioned much like haute couture. Rather than choosing an existing model, clients collaborate intimately with designers and engineers to shape every detail, from form to finish. Produced in extremely limited numbers and defined by uncompromising craftsmanship, each creation becomes deeply personal.

«A Rolls-Royce is already the epitome of luxury, Coachbuild, however, is haute couture on four wheels.»

Inspired by the streamlined elegance of the 1920s and the experimental spirit of Henry Royce, this two-seat convertible pairs sculptural, monolithic design with a near-silent all-electric powertrain, redefining what open-air driving feels like.

Inside, serenity becomes spectacle. A bespoke «Starlight Breeze» installation,  over 10,000 delicate light points inspired by birdsong, transforms the cabin into a moving constellation, blurring the line between craftsmanship and art.

Entirely hand-built and deeply personal, each Nightingale will be tailored to its owner, with deliveries beginning in 2028. In essence, it’s not just a car, it’s a collectible expression of modern luxury at its most poetic.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rolly-Royce Motor Cars
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BAWAH POWER RETREAT
Five Days to Reset, Restore, and Renew

Set on the remote islands of Bawah Reserve, the BAWAH POWER, Nature Reset & Longevity Retreat from 4-9 June 2026 offers a rare kind of escape, one that feels less like indulgence and more like return.

Over five carefully curated days, the program blends modern longevity principles with the regenerative force of nature. The result is subtle but profound: deeper sleep, steadier energy, and a nervous system that begins to unwind almost on its own.

At its core is the Aura Spa & Thermal Sanctuary, where personalized treatments and guided heat – cold rituals restore balance at a physiological level. Days extend beyond the spa into jungle hikes, ocean swims, and unstructured island exploration, moments designed not for stimulation, but for presence.

Workshops on Reset, Movement as Medicine, and longevity as a lifestyle offer gentle structure, while digital detox options allow for complete disconnection. Evenings shift inward, with meditation, aromatherapy, and sleep rituals that support lasting recovery.

The retreat is led by a considered group of practitioners, each bringing a distinct, holistic perspective to wellbeing: Philippa Glazer, who brings a philosophy rooted in nature and conscious movement; Tania Balasch, specializing in integrative nutrition and longevity; Joaquin Soler, whose culinary approach balances refinement with integrity; and Nuning Utami, guiding practices that build both strength and stillness.

Spanning over 300 hectares of protected rainforest, lagoons, and white-sand beaches, Bawah Reserve operates with a clear commitment to ecological preservation. Its limited number of tented suites, overwater bungalows, and the private Elang Island ensure an atmosphere of quiet exclusivity without excess.

Accessible only via Singapore, Bawah remains intentionally removed. That distance is precisely its power: creating the space for a true reset, quiet, grounded, and enduring.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Bawah Reserve
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Spring just hits different. Lighter fabrics, bare skin, that first real warmth, it’s a whole mood.

This look is all about effortless confidence: clean lines, fresh energy, and that feeling of stepping back into the sun. And honestly, nothing beats a spontaneous drive, windows down, wind in your hair, no plans, just movement in a great outfit that deserves an equally great car like this Maserati Ghibli Hybrid.

My look: Cropped satin-trimmed grain de poudre wool jacket, and pleated cotton-blend twill cargo pants, both by Balmain, striped sports bra by Celine, Caracaba mini leather-trimmed appliquéd patchwork canvas tote, and Kate 100 leopard-print pony hair pumps, both by Christian Louboutin, cat-eye acetate and gold-tone sunglasses by Bottega Veneta, Chandra earrings with white porcelain and pink tourmaline by Bvlgari, Golden Dome Elixir cocktail ring in 18k yellow gold by Cartier, and Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Rian Davidson 
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Old Navy is continuing its transformation into a more fashion-driven brand with a new designer collaboration, this time partnering with New York–based designer Christopher John Rogers.

The project is led by Zac Posen, who serves as Chief Creative Officer of Old Navy and Creative Director at Gap Inc. since 2024. His role is to reshape the brand’s creative direction, bringing stronger design, storytelling, and high-profile collaborations into a space traditionally known for basics.

Following a previous collaboration with Anna Sui, this new collection reflects Posen’s vision of making great American design more accessible while supporting both established and emerging talent.

The 46-piece lineup, priced between $24.99 and $84.99, blends Rogers’ signature aesthetic, bold colors, sculptural shapes, and expressive patterns, with Old Navy’s easy, everyday wearability. Think vibrant dresses, polka dots and stripes, oversized denim shirts, and relaxed cargo pieces designed for mixing and matching.

At its core, the collection is about joy and self-expression. Rogers focuses on giving customers the freedom to create their own looks, combining statement pieces with practical wardrobe staples. The color palette, featuring tones like golden olive and warm reddish orange, feels playful yet approachable.

The campaign stars Kimora Lee Simmons and her daughters, reinforcing the idea that the collection is for everyone, across generations, identities, and body types.

Under Posen’s creative leadership, these collaborations are becoming a key part of Old Navy’s strategy. By releasing multiple designer partnerships each year, the brand is aiming to bring a sense of excitement, cultural relevance, and elevated design to a broad audience without losing its core promise of accessibility.

The collection launches on April 15, 2026 (with early access starting April 14).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Old Navy
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Some artworks fill a space. Others transform it. With New York Apple, Claude Lalanne achieves exactly that, a poetic, monumental gesture now on view at Le Bristol Paris. Presented by Christie’s, the sculpture has already emerged as a standout highlight of the upcoming 20/21 Century Art Evening Sale.

Standing nearly 2.5 meters tall, New York Apple is Lalanne’s most ambitious interpretation of a motif she has explored since the 1960s. What began as an intimate study evolves here into a striking balance of surreal transformation and organic elegance. This edition (7/8, 2008), estimated at €5–7 million, embodies the unique blend of imagination and formal precision that defines her work.

Its placement at Le Bristol is more than curatorial, it’s cultural. Set within the hotel’s refined salons and iconic garden, the sculpture engages in a dialogue with a space synonymous with Parisian art de vivre.

No stranger to prestigious stages, New York Apple has appeared from Park Avenue in New York to the gardens of Versailles. Its current presentation in Paris marks yet another sophisticated chapter in its journey.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Le Bristol Paris / Anna Buklovska © Christie’s Images Limited 2026 
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A rare moment in Boston: me in jeans and frizzy hair, stuck in an underground garage due to heavy rain, called for: beauty queen of the force of nature.

Bright orange, against concrete. That was the situation. Later at Puttshack Boston, indoor mini golf, part game, part spectacle. Caution: I was unstoppable.

My look: Dioriviera cashmere sweater «Mykonos» (S/S 2022) by Dior, butterfly embroidered jeans by Valentino, ruched belt with butterfly buckle (Gucci Garden), and  Screener sneakers by Gucci, orange red mirror quilted runway shield sunglasses (S/S 2016) by CHANEL, «All Aboard» bandana silk scarf 55 in orange / white / black, and Evelyne 16 mini canvas shoulder bag in Clemence leather in Orange Minium, both by Hermès.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Louis Vuitton unveils a new Horological Masterpiece: an Automata Watch that transcends time and imagination and that made me fall in love with it.

La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton shatters the codes of conventional watchmaking aesthetics with its latest in-house exploration of colour and movement. The Tambour Taiko Arty Automata embarks on new adventures through contemporary high watchmaking, in nimble pursuit of the unique rhapsodies of horological automata and grand feu enamel. Taking inspiration from the House’s numerous artist collaborations, the audacious dial design is characterised by the vibrant interplay of shape and form, evoking the springtime in all its sensorial splendor.

Since 2021, the finely honed use of horological automata has distinguished the exceptional high watchmaking creations of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Unmatched as a mechanical means of expression, horological automata have featured in milestone pieces such as the Carpe Diem and the Fiery Heart to amplify their inherent dynamism and technical mastery. The new Tambour Taiko Arty Automata is the latest timepiece to channel Louis Vuitton’s in-house expertise in complex animated dials, conveying a message of unrestrained delight and shared joy through generous volumes of brightly hued champlevé enamel. Driving the watch is the automatic in-house Calibre LFT AU05.01, developed and manufactured by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. A total of seven animated elements make up the dial automata, creating an expertly orchestrated mechanical dance, in addition to the continuous rotation of a one-minute tourbillon.

Within the confines of its 42mm white-gold case, the Tambour Taiko Arty Automata runs riot with colour and movement. A multi-tiered dial comprises 20 miniature elements spread over four different height levels, giving the watch its extraordinary richness of texture and dimension. On this artisanal canvas, luscious swirls of pastel shades create a subtle backdrop, while the hours and minutes stand out against a subdial tinted with the warmer end of the spectrum. Four Monogram Flowers with diamond pistils are scattered around the time display, gradient-blended and outlined in a palette reminiscent of 1970s-era sunburst tie-dye.

A flying tourbillon at the 6 o’clock position of the dial balances its ceaseless motion by introducing an emblem of harmony and repose. The upper tourbillon bridge is in the shape of the peace symbol, first designed in 1958 and subsequently adopted as visual shorthand for universal love. The word «LOVE» is prominently spelled out in pink enamel just above the tourbillon aperture, the fluid form of its letters evoking the spontaneity and authenticity of human emotion in the moment.

Most striking of all are the three elements to the left of the dial and their depth of detail, an eye with a dramatic fringe of lashes made from real feathers, a pair of glossy red lips with perfectly white teeth, and wedged between those teeth, a shiny candy-pink heart.

The ultra-sensorial design does not end with a static tableau, as multi-layered and visually captivating as it already is. It takes a single touch of its wearer to bring the Tambour Taiko Arty Automata to life.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Arty Automata highlights exceptional hand craftsmanship, combining multiple artisanal techniques, most notably the complex champlevé enamel process.

This technique requires hollowing out surfaces, carefully layering enamel, and firing each color at specific temperatures in a precise sequence. Particularly challenging are the vivid red, pink, and purple tones, which are highly sensitive to heat. Creating elements like the glossy, curved lips on the dial demands multiple enamel layers and great expertise.

In total, the dial uses 23 enamel shades and requires over 250 hours of meticulous manual work, reflecting the rarity and technical mastery behind the piece.

Male model’s wrist size: 18cm/7.09 in
Female model’s wrist size: 15cm/5.91 in

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Arty Automata carries the reference W9WG71 and is offered as a limited edition through Louis Vuitton boutiques. The 42 mm white gold case is water-resistant up to 50 meters. The price is approximately $ 485,000, which corresponds to around € 420,000, depending on the market.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton Still life visuals: Ulysse Frechelin Know-how visuals: Piotr Stoklosa
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