Sandra‘s Closet

Today and running through the week, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) has opened its doors. Only invited journalists and retailers from around the world are able to visit this most exclusive watch fair in Geneva at the Palexpo convention center. Renowned watch brands, such as IWC Schaffhausen, Audemars Piguet, Piaget, Montblanc, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin just to name a few display their newest timepieces. As all of these houses have in general famous ambassadors, you will most likely run in many celebrities at the exhibition. In the evening, exclusive events take place. One that is definitely not to miss is IWC Schaffhausen’s gala night which always takes place on Tuesday evening. Enjoy some of my impressions of last year and stay tuned for the new ones coming up soon!

Monday night is Montblanc night. Charlotte Casiraghi wore the same Montblanc earrings than me.

French actor Pierre Niney

Tuesday is THE day at the IWC Schaffhausen booth, many celebrities (here among them Nico Rosberg, Louis Hamilton, Ronan and Storm Keating) visit the Swiss watch manufacturer.

Framed by Marc Forster and Luis Garcia Fanjul.

IWC brand ambassador Karolina Kurkova with me

In the evening, the IWC gala «Journey to the Stars» took place which was amazing.

With Adriana Lima and Barbara Becker.

Great performance by Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall.

Love her! Emily Blunt

Having fun!

James Marsden.

With IWC Schaffhausen CEO Georges Kern 

British Formula 1 racing car driver Lewis Hamilton

As SIHH is all about watches, I would like to show you two of my favorite models I spotted last year. First the Big Bang Broderie by Hublot. Sized at 41mm, these beautiful watches come in three styles (two are shown in the picture). All are limited to 200 pieces, each style.

And second, Cartier‘s Rêve de Panthère watch. In this spectacular creation, Cartier’s panther emblem enters the decoration – at once diurnal and nocturnal – of a day/night movement that belongs to the great tradition of the Maison’s complications. Like by magic, The background sky changes from starry night to shining sun for an extraordinary interpretation of time measurement.

Enjoy your day!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Hublot and Cartier, © Sandra Bauknecht

Saturday night as part of the 11th Zurich Film Festival, I attended the wonderful IWC Schaffhausen “For the Love of Cinema” Gala Dinner at the Park Hyatt hotel during which Oscar winner Christoph Waltz presented the first-ever Filmmaker Award, worth CHF 100,000 in sponsorship. The award was set up by the Association for the Promotion of Film in Switzerland, which was founded last December by Marc Forster, IWC CEO Georges Kern, the co-directors of the Zurich Film Festival Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri, and the CEO of Ringier, Marc Walder.

To celebrate the occasion, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer had invited some 200 VIP guests from the worlds of film, media, politics and commerce.

On the red carpet

Bernhard Burgener, Norbert Preuss and Michael Steiner (“Und morgen seid ihr tot”) and Lisa Blatter and Jan Gassmann (“Europe, She Loves“) receive the Filmmaker Award. 

From the four nominated films, the jury picked two winners: “Und morgen seid ihr tot” (“Tomorrow You’ll Be Dead”) and “Europe, She Loves”. Christoph Waltz, who presented the award, shot to fame with roles in “Inglourious Basterds” and “Django Unchained” by the American cult director Quentin Tarantino.

Christoph Waltz

“I am proud to be here in person to present this award, which is very important for the Swiss film industry. Providing sponsorship for filmmakers is a necessary and relevant task, one which makes a significant contribution to the diversity of Swiss film,” said the two-time Academy Award winner. The two winning projects were also each presented with an IWC watch – the Portugieser Automatic in stainless steel with a black dial and a special rotor engraving with “1st Filmmaker Award Zurich 2015”.

Actor Christoph Waltz, IWC CEO Georges Kern and director Marc Forster during dinner.

Philipp Fankhauser and band performed at the gala. 

After the dinner, we continued the party at Club Adagio into the small hours of the morning. It was a truly amazing night… thanks IWC Schaffhausen for having me!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Lennart Preiss/Getty Images for IWC

One of the most exciting events of the year is the IWC gala held during the SIHH. Each year, Georges Kern, CEO IWC Schaffhausen, brings glamour and worldclass celebrities to Geneva. One night that makes you feel more like being in Hollywood than in Switzerland.

Georges Kern, CEO IWC Schaffhausen, with me

On the red carpet at this incredible event were Ewan McGregor, Zinédine Zidane, Karolina Kurkova, Ross Brawn, Eric Dane, Adriana Lima, Luis Figo and Matthew Fox, among many others. I had so much fun watching all of them arrive and was spotted myself…

Racing driver for the Mercedes GP Formula One™ team: Nico Rosberg

Model Victoria Silvstedt

Unzipped, the best “backolleté”: Karoline Huber, CMO IWC Schaffhausen, in Tom Ford

This year, the theme “IWC RACE NIGHT” was of course matching the house’s newest launch of its new Ingenieur watches that I had a closer look at during a tour around the amazing IWC booth earlier that day. (For the post, please click here.) The latest collection aptly expresses the spirit of the new partnership between the Schaffhausen watchmaker and the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team.

My look: Black jumpsuit by Michael Kors, shrug by D&G Dolce Gabbana, Elsie bag by Chloé, Tribute patent-leather sandals by Saint Laurent, cuff by Stella McCartney, necklace by Roberto Cavalli and earrings by Chanel.

Tim Jefferies

Actor Ralf Moeller with me

Photographer Peter Lindbergh with me

Lovely Karolina Kurkova

Two angels in Geneva: Victoria Secret Models Karolina Kurkova and Adriana Lima in Roberto Cavalli

Grey’s Anatomy “McSteamy” Eric Dane with me

Together with IWC CEO Georges Kern, Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey compèred the IWC Race Night, while Nico Rosberg and his sleek Formula One™ racing car galvanized the atmosphere. The moment, we heard the sound of the engine, it was clear why each of the over 850 guests had ear plugs at the table.

A spectacular competition between some prominent guests ensued when Nico Rosberg invited them to change the tyres on his Formula One™ car. In a simulated pit stop, top model Karolina Kurkova, film stars Matthew Fox, Jean Reno and Eric Dane, as well as Asian actors Francis Ng and Kiichi Nakai tried to get the sleek-bodied vehicle back on the track in the 3 seconds that were given to them.

Great team work: Karolina Kurkova and Jean Reno

A happy Eric Dane

Concentrated: Tim Jefferies and Marc Forster

Those two are having fun: Marc Forster and Kevin Spacey

Personally speaking, the culmination of the night was a private concert from the British band Jamiroquai. Lead singer Jay Kay has such a rhythm and incredible presence on stage that  I couldn’t stop dancing all night… as you can see in the last picture.

Thank you, IWC, for letting me be part of this outstanding event!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Every year, IWC Schaffhausen is lauded at SIHH (the Salon International de l’Haute Horlogerie in Geneva), for having the biggest and most spectacular booth. Remember last year’s Portofino theme which was truly amazing? (If not, please click here.)

This year is no different. The booth turned out even more spectacular than ever before, designed to look and feel like a US Aircraft Carrier. The highlight was a spectacular, real-life flight simulator in the body of a real fighter jet.

No wonder that many celebrities came to see the booth and to explore the newest collection of Pilot’s watches.

Please enjoy my photos below!

LoL, Sandra

German actor Sebastian Koch listening carefully to his “flight instructions”

Singer Ronan Keating with me

Famous actor Ewan McGregor (Star Wars prequel trilogy, Trainspotting, Moulin Rouge)

CEO of IWC, Georges Kern, with his wife Monika Kern and Ewan McGregor

Gorgeous Victoria Secret supermodel Adriana Lima…

…had a lot of fun.

From left to right: Ewan McGregor, Ronan Keating, Marc Forster and Georges Kern.

What have those gentlemen in common?

They all wear IWC watches.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The IWC booth at the 21st SIHH was designed in the style of the 1950s and `60s right down to the last detail, transporting the visitors to the Italian-style joie de vivre of Portofino, to the sweet dolce fa niente… as the hours go by.
The hostesses were dressed in beautiful petticoats with make-up and hair finishing off the perfect vintage look. A scooter parked in front of the “Via Scafusia”, an ice-cream vendor, a cinema for press presentations were just among those amazing ideas to create the wonderful surrounding.
Have fun seeing all the celebs who came to the fair. Hollywood made in Switzerland, two thumbs up!

LoL, Sandra

Georges Kern, CEO of IWC, in his amazing office at the booth.

On display his well-deserved award...

...and the beautiful photo book by Peter Lindbergh.

Tim Jeffries had a good laugh with Ronan Keating...

...before inspecting all the beautiful new Portofino watches.

Tim Jeffries with me.

Vitali Klitschko had a brief conversation with Ion Tiriac about sports.

Boris Becker with me.

Lilly Becker with me.

French former soccer player Zinédine Zidane with Georges Kern.

Luis Figo greeted Joachim Loew, soccer trainer and one of the best dressed men.

Director of the 007 James Bond movie Quantum of Solace Marc Forster with me.

That is me taking the photo below...

...of Kevin Spacey and Georges Kern enjoying the photos.

Later on, Cate Blanchett looked at the amazing book.

That might have been one of her favourite pages.

Photographer Peter Lindbergh with Cate Blanchett.

LOST actor Matthew Fox surprised with his beard.

And here she came: Gorgeous Elle Macpherson.

On the scooter with colleague Matthew Fox.

Loved her look with the red shoes and the little toe rings.

Elle greeted cheerfully Peter Lindbergh.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, © Getty Images for IWC

This week I went to the 21st SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) in Geneva. This private trade fair is a landmark event for the fine watch sector, and at this year’s show, 19 watch brands presented their new products, including Baume & Mercier, Cartier and Montblanc among others. IWC Schaffhausen definitely topped everything, celebrating the launch of their latest generation of its Portofino family.

Portofino that stands for the dolce vita of the 1960s had inspired the name of the IWC watch collection that took the world by storm in 1984 when its first model hit the market. It was the result of a happy union between the pocket watch and wristwatch.

So let me introduce you to those new members of rare beauty and simple elegance.

The Portofino Automatic (Reference 3565), the unassuming star from Schaffhausen, will be available this year with a reworked design in a contemporary 40-millimetre case. Its classical shape is reminiscent of the IWC models from the 1960s without overdoing the retro vibe.

The watch can be customised with a strap or Milanese bracelet that is made of tightly woven wire mesh and that was highly popular during this era.
For further information, please click here.

The Portofino Chronograph (Reference 3910) is the elegant way to stop time. Inspired by the classical, functional design that characterised the Italian sports cars of the 1960s, it is a very understated watch making no exhibition of its sporting ambitions. The displays and stopwatch controls are elegantly integrated.
Apart from the classical alligator leather straps, it is also available with a cool but snug-fitting Milanese mesh bracelet.
For further information, please click here.

One watch – two times: The Portofino Dual Time (Reference 3610) is the perfect companion for the sophisticated world traveller with its understated 24-hour display in the upper half of the dial that keeps him reliably informed about the time back home. The unique elegant alligator straps are handmade by Italian top-quality shoemaker Santoni. Each strap is one of its own.
For further information, please click here.

The Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days (Reference 5101) is the family’s new flagship with its newly developed IWC-manufactured 59210-calibre movement and power reserve display that will run for full eight days. This watch comes also with a one-of-a-kind leather strap made by Santoni.
For further information, please click here.

Renowned photographer Peter Lindbergh captured the mood of the IWC Portofino 2011 watch family with amazing photos shot last summer in the picturesque Italian harbour town and featuring a crowd of A-list celebrities like Boris Becker, Cate Blanchett, Elle Macpherson, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jean Reno, Kevin Spacey, Marc Forster, Ronan Keating, Tim Jefferies, Zinédine Zidane, just to name a few.
Georges Kern, the brand’s CEO, brought Hollywood to Switzerland as most of them were party attendees and even visited the booth. Stay tuned for some gorgeous photos that I took. In the meantime enjoy this feast for the eyes: “Days in Portofino“ with famous Peter Lindbergh.

LoL, Sandra