Sandra‘s Closet

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

“I’m renowned for my love of a high collar and I wanted to create a true collector’s item,” says Karl Lagerfeld of his jewel-encrusted collar.

Fusing “the masculine with the feminine and uniting the world of fine jewelry and high fashion”, the designer’s spectacular collar is an extraordinary collector’s piece. Handcrafted from black suede, sparkling with pavé black diamonds and a single emerald- cut stone, produced exclusively for the Vogue UK jewelry editor Carol Woolton-curated Brilliant exhibition at Masterpiece, London, the capital’s luxury art and design fair, it will be on display from June 28th – July 4th. The piece will be accompanied by a hand-signed sketch from Mr Lagerfeld himself.

A percentage of profits from the sale will be donated to children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

This collar will be available for shipping from 7th July.
TO SHOP, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Serpenti is one of the Bvlgari’s most famous icons. The figure of the reptile, a symbol of eternally youth and immortality in the mythological bestiary, is an integral and long-established part of the aesthetic universe of the Italian jeweler, and consistently appears in the most striking Bulgari creations. In religion, mythology, and literature, serpents and snakes represent fertility or a creative life force. An object of desire for women all around the world since its first introduction.

The initial three coil gold snake wristwatch and bracelet, such as the ones in the collage above, were extremely successful in the 1950s and 1960s. Bulgari has expanded upon the theme by introducing other versions until today.

Recently, I was lucky to see this Bulgari museum piece from around 1965 which is not for sale:

Snake bracelet in gold and polychrome enamel (B616). The flexible bracelet designed as a coiled snake, the scales decorated with white and black enamel, the head with pear-shaped diamonds eyes.

It has already adorned the wrists of many celebrities, as you can see below:

Probably you can imagine how honoured I felt to wear this piece of contemporary history.

Eve was the first woman tempted by a serpent in paradise… and thanks to Bulgari many women have followed. In case you are ready to be tempted by the newest Serpenti 2012 collection, I invite you to click here for a previous post.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bulgari, © Getty Images, © Guindani, © Irving Penn for Vogue and © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, I would like to show you my new jewel crush: Bulgari‘s 2012 Serpenti collection which will be available starting this summer at all of the Italian brand’s boutiques.

I had a sneak preview and fell immediately in love with the pink gold bracelet and ring that are characterised by the famous stylised spiral form. The core of each jewel is constituted by an internal gold spring that ensures its extraordinary flexibility. Each individual scale vaunts a sumptuous surface of diamond pavé. A rubellite adorns the “reptile’s head”.

Don’t those two pieces just look divine?! Loved them so much that it was hard to take them off…
But unfortunately this beauty has its price. Below you can find all the details.

Dear Santa, please be good to me!

LoL, Sandra

347601 – Serpenti pink gold one coil bracelet with rubellite head and pavé-set diamond scales (8,40 cts).
Size S – 45’000CHF / Size M – 46’200CHF / Size L – 47’500CHF

347594 – Serpenti pink gold double coil ring with rubellite head and pavé-set diamond scales (2,60 cts).
Size S, M, L, XL – 20’600CHF

Stills: Courtesy of Bulgari and Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The collaboration between Chopard and the Cannes Film Festival turns 15 this year, and once again, the Swiss jewelry and watch brand is set to prove that its precious creations sparkle as brightly as the movie stars who wear them. Reflecting the number of editions of the famous movie festival, this year’s Chopard Red Carpet collection comprises 65 creations by Caroline Scheufele, Co-President and Artistic Director of Chopard.

For this oustanding one-of-a-kind collection, she has chosen to work with stones such as rubies, emeralds, padparadscha sapphires, tanzanite, and kunzite –without forgetting diamonds, which Caroline Scheufele proclaims as “my favourite stone and an indispensable ally for women on the red carpet”.

As for me, one of the most standout pieces is the apple ring that is adorned by 800 tsavorites and more than 200 brown diamonds totalling 57.2 carats. So delectable with a deliciously tangy radiance, Chopard is taking the Big Apple literally, bound to draw all eyes.

Below, you can see the making of, from the sketch to the final product.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chopard and © Sandra Bauknecht

The 65th annual Cannes Film Festival commemorates Marilyn Monroe on the 50th anniversary of her death, featuring her on the festival’s posters. Festival sponsor Chopard pays tribute to Marilyn Monroe‘s most memorable movie moment, her famous performance of “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” in the 1953 musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with a diamond necklace in honour of the blonde bombshell’s object of affection in the film, featuring almost 200 carats of diamonds.

On this occasion, the Swiss jewelry and watch brand exhibits “Marilyn Forever”, 25 unpublished images, captured by frequent Monroe photographer Milton H. Greene, previewed in the Chopard Lounge at Hotel Martinez. After the festival, it will travel to Chopard boutiques around the world alongside with the Monroe-inspired “Tribute Set”.

Eva Herzigova wore the Marilyn Monroe Tribute set from the Red Carpet collection composed of a necklace in 18-carat white gold set with beads diamonds (151.64 cts), heart shaped diamonds (30.72 cts) and diamonds (18.53cts) with matching earrings on the Cannes Film Festival’s opening night.

I was able to explore this stunning tribute jewelry creation designed by Caroline Scheufele closely at the Chopard lounge. It is truly breathtaking.

Diamonds and glamour: Marilyn Monroe and Chopard were destined to cross paths. Below you can see how the tribute set was created, a piece of art and craftsmanship.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chopard, © Getty Images and © Sandra Bauknecht

During my visit to the Baselworld 2012, the world watch and jewelry show, I came across some very amazing creations that I would love to share with you.

One that has absolutely overwhelmed me with its beauty is Chopard‘s High Jewelry collection “Precious Temptations”. Jewelry gourmets are in for a treat! Chopard has concocted a banquet of sweet delights, freely combining the most precious stones with more unusual gems to create a scrumptious array of pink sapphires, amethysts, rubellites, tsavorites, tourmalines and opals.

This delicious collection of eye candy appoints one of the biggest S/S 2012 fashion trends – pastel – as the master of ceremonies, inviting the most exquisite colours to its dessert buffet.

Bon appétit!

LoL, Sandra

Necklace in 18ct white gold set with diamonds, a cushion-cut peridot (5.6cts) and a pear-shaped amethyst of 32.7cts – Ref. 819158-1001
Earrings in 18ct white gold set with diamonds, 2 cushion-cut peridots (11.4cts) and 2 pear-shaped amethysts of 38.3cts – Ref. 849158-1001

Earrings in 18ct white gold set with diamonds and composed of 2 briolettes aquamarines (25.4cts) and 2 oval-shaped tanzanites of 13.7cts – Ref. 849151-1001

Ring in 18ct white gold set with diamonds, 2 half-moon shaped diamonds and an emerald-cut tanzanite of 12cts – Ref. 820621-1001

Ring in 18ct white gold set with emeralds, 2 heart-shaped pink sapphires and a heart-shaped emerald of 31.3cts – Ref. 820614-1001

Earrings in 18ct white gold set with emeralds, 4 pear-shaped pink sapphires and 2 heart-shaped emeralds of 21.7cts and 23.7cts – Ref. 840379-1001

Earrings in 18ct rose gold composed of 2 drop shaped amethysts for a total of 63cts, 2 fancy-cut toumalines (14.4cts), 8 torumalines beads (11.2cts), 2 fancy-cut morganites and diamonds – Ref. 849154-1001

Long necklace in 18ct rose gold composed of tourmaline beads (116cts), opals (139cts), amethysts (45cts), morganites (13cts) and diamonds – Ref. 819154-1001

Photos: Courtesy of Chopard and © Sandra Bauknecht

Louis Vuitton is revealing a new interpretation of its famous Monogram flowers. Each motif has its own corresponding colour of gold —rose, yellow or white, brought to life with the sparkle of a diamond. A precious matrix and a fundamental equation at the heart of a jewel, to be worn in infinite ways.

Monogram Idylle offers an invitation to play with bracelets and necklaces to be linked together, stacked up, mixed up or changed around. Individual earrings for a deliberately mismatched look and a triple ring for a collection of contrasts, the lightweight design and purity of the gold combine to give a fun, ultra-feminine collection of talisman jewellery.

I absolutely adore the idea of mixing and matching those beautiful jewelry pieces.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

“Juste un clou”, bracelet, yellow gold, large size

Turn a nail into jewelry, see beauty in its barest, clearest state and reveal the object just as it is. From the toolbox to your jewel box, Cartier‘s new collection “Juste un clou” offers just a nail yet a precious item of jewellery.

The first nail bracelet was originally conceived by Aldo Cipullo for Cartier New York in the ’70s. Echoing the festive wildness at heart that sprung up around the iconic Studio 54, this classic piece was ahead of its time, displaying a modernity that remains up to date: the bracelet is back, redesigned to nail contemporary style.

Bracelets and rings in yellow, white or pink gold, natural or paved with diamonds, in large and small sizes. The proverbial nail on the head. So ’70s and so chic!
In Cartier boutiques now.

LoL, Sandra

“Juste un clou” ring, pink gold, diamonds

“Juste un clou” bracelet, pink gold, small size, “Juste un clou” bracelet, white gold, small size, “Juste un clou” bracelet, pink gold, diamonds, small size, “Juste un clou” bracelet, yellow gold, small size

Photos: © Cartier 2012

Meet Geneva-based contemporary jewelry designer Suzanne Syz and her unconventional, original designs.

Suzanne cites Andy Warhol, Francesco Clemente, Julian Schnabel, Jean Michel Basquiat and Jeff Koons – all of whom she was friends with when she lived in New York City in the 1980s – as influences on her art-inspired creations. She loves using unusual materials and radiant colours.

Her “Live Savers”, inspired by the famous American candy, belong to Suzanne’s iconic designs.

Isn’t that “Smarties” necklace (around CHF 100.000) absolutely divine?!

When I met her, she said: “Jewelry should be individual and reflect your personal style.” She takes this vision seriously. All her designs are highly individual one-of-a-kind pieces and there is no way that she will reproduce the exact same one.

Suzanne Syz is exclusively available at Landolf & Huber in Zurich, Switzerland – a jeweler that I can highly recommend.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Suzanne Syz