Sandra‘s Closet

Maybe it is not in the perfection of life that things make sense, but in the chaos. This can also apply to an outfit. Sometimes I like to mix and match unexpected things. The chaos can create perfection. With much love from Gstaad Palace.

My look: Houndstooth long belted coat in blue and white, matching houndstooth shorts, dark blue cashmere sweater with logo (all from the Pre-Collection F/W 2019), suede boots with sleeve, patchwork classic flap shoulder bag (2012), and AirPods case in white caviar leather, all by CHANEL, Sabrina wool-felt and fishnet cap by Eugenia Kim, silver-tone, faux pearl and crystal earrings by Simone Rocha, Double C diamond black lacquer white gold ring by Cartier, and Aquanaut Luce in khaki green by Patek Philippe.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

There is no doubt that Patek Philippe watches are considered an investment. Founded in Geneva in 1839, the brand’s style and craftsmanship make it stand out from competitors, creating highly collectable watches. Being an independent manufacture, the House has its own research and development department and creates and engineers all movements and external components in its own workshops.

One new ladies’ model, presented at Watches & Wonders has caught my eye and not only because I have a thing for colorful watches. The Manufacture is enriching its range of elegant watches for ladies with a new rose gold version decked out in purple – an original and refined color perfectly matching the warm nuances of the precious metal. Meet the new purple Ladies’ Calatrava – Ref. 4997/200R-001.

The bezel set with 76 round internally flawless Top Wesselton diamonds (0.55 ct), highlights the dial with its embossed radiating pattern and the entirely polished case. The presence of ultra-thin self-winding 240 caliber with an offcenter 22K gold mini-rotor makes it possible to offer a very slim case (7.4mm).

The dial base embossed with a concentric waves pattern is coated with more than fifty successive layers of translucent lacquer creating a fascinating depth effect. The shade of the dial is echoed by the purple calfskin strap with satinated finish and rose gold prong buckle.

Available – if your are lucky – for CHF 32.500.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Patek Philippe
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During the wonderful Patek Philippe event in Zurich, I held a presentation about the newest fashion and watch trends that I am happily sharing with you today. During my speech, I talked about the most important F/W 2022 colors and shapes. I also gave an insight into the shoe, bag and accessories trends.

Furthermore, I explained how dressing can be fun and what you should keep in mind when choosing your outfits. Below you can find all my presentation slides that are absolutely self explanatory. The common thread is to invest in best quality and enjoy the pieces for many years to come.

LoL, Sandra

Slides: © Sandra Bauknecht
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Courtesy of the Designers and via Instagram @EcoAge
Fabrizio Vignali @iziophotography for Patek Philippe
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Recently, I had the honor to host a wonderful event with Patek Philippe to celebrate their wonderful ladies watches in collaboration with Beyer, the oldest authorized watch and jewelry retailer in the world. The evening took place at Atelier Peter Nitz in Zurich Niederdorf.

On my wrist the beautiful complicated watch 4948R with annual calendar and moon phases.

Women and watches. It’s complicated! In today’s world, ladies are as active as men in business, social and many other life spheres. This has obviously an affect on their style, how they incorporate fashion into their daily life. There is indeed a huge trend in women being interested in complicated watches. On display at the event were many watch models combining function with fashion. Patek Philippe is the perfect choice for women who are intrigued by complications as much as those attracted by appearance.

From left to right: Philippe Meyer, Beyer Head of Marketing, Serge Forster, Patek Philippe Boutique Manager Zurich, my humble self, Peter Nitz, and Alexandre Pouly, Patek Philippe Area Manager.

Since Patek Philippe was founded in 1839, it has been devoted to female clients. Its pocket and pendant watches, lavishly decorated with refined artisanal techniques, attracted sophisticated female customers. Queen Victoria purchased a timepiece in blue enamel in 1851 at the London Universal Exhibition. The manufacture leveraged its craft with complicated ladies’ watches, creating the first Swiss-made ladies wristwatch for a Hungarian countess in 1868. The manufacture’s first chiming wristwatch in 1916 was a ladies’ five-minute repeater.

A growing demand for wristwatches over the ensuing decades allowed Patek Philippe to demonstrate affinity with female tastes by crafting many models and collections. In 1999, Patek Philippe released the Ladies Twenty~4, which proved an outstanding success. Its unique name showing that it is the perfect companion for any time of day or night. In 2018, Patek Philippe further developed the collection with a self-winding wristwatch. The Twenty~4 Automatic: a timepiece for modern, self-confident women with its sleek elegance complements every facet of daily life.

Understanding the savoir-faire that goes into a Patek Philippe watch is mind-blowing, whether ultra thin, simple or complicated, the precision of Patek Philippe movements fitted in manual winding watches is impressive. The same goes for  the various self-winding movements with a number of high performance mechanisms. Even the quartz movements of Patek Philippe watches are built with the same high quality standards that apply to its mechanical movements. On top, from marquetry, gemsetting, guilloché, chainsmithery, and more, the specialist artistic techniques have a long and glorious history at the Swisswatch manufacture.

One of the reasons why luxury watches are typically so expensive is because the supply of many timepieces does not come close to matching the demand. The best and outstanding quality is at the core of watchmaking at Patek Philippe. You might accuse the brand of intentionally cutting supply to drive prices up, but in reality, their strategy is about keeping the value of their products high by retaining a sense of exclusivity.

During the past years, the luxury watch market has been booming and prices have been skyrocketing. Buying the right watch can be a great investment, and looking at recent auctions, the brand to invest in is by far Patek Philippe. The most expensive watch ever sold at auction worldwide is the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010, which fetched US $ 31.19 million in Geneva on November 9, 2019, and the most expensive pocket watch is the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication, fetching US $ 23.98 million in Geneva on November 11, 2014. Until now, at least 101 watches have been sold at auction for over two million US dollars, and at least 160 watches have been sold at auction for over 1.5 million US dollars. Among the top 10 of these watches, eight are Patek Philippe watches.

Serge Forster, Patek Philippe Boutique Manager Zurich, in conversation with a guest.

If you are interested in buying a watch, I always recommend building a relationship with an authorized dealer of your choice, and accept that you may face significant waiting times to receive your dream model. Don’t forget, anticipation is the greatest joy. I am waiting myself for the Aquanaut Luce Ref. 5267-200A in olive green, see in the collage below.

Beyer Chronometrie on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich is Switzerland’s oldest watch retailer. Eight generations of the Beyer family business have looked after the most beautiful aspects of time for more than 260 years. Since 2011, the first retailer-managed Patek Philippe boutique in Switzerland has been handled by Beyer. With a strong emphasis on tradition, you will get the best service and help in finding your dream watch.

During the event, I held a presentation about the newest fashion and watch trends that I will happily share with you to finalize your choice. Personally speaking, I have always tried to foster an understanding of the detailed craftsmanship that goes into a luxury product, be it a watch, a dress or a bag. Appreciating the work behind the product and seeing it as an investment for many years to come is sustainable shopping at its core.

That evening guests were invited to explore that leathercraft is an art form driven by a passion for exquisite materials and goods. Guided by master craftsman Peter Nitz, the ladies experienced how a tailor-made and handmade watch travel case is created. Peter and Julien explained the  process and everyone was able to try the stitching themselves. Leather crafting, just like any other skill, requires not only practice but also the correct techniques upon which to properly build those skills. Peter Nitz covers all aspects of leather crafting and leatherworking.

Julien, who worked for Hermès in Paris before joining the Atelier Peter Nitz, is explaining the first steps of the stitching process.

In his atelier you can create exquisite bespoke luxury bags and leathergoods of your own with him and his team. You can also take private lessons or participate in group courses, either as a complete beginner or experienced craftsman to learn how to create a bag. Soon, Peter will open its first store in Zurich’s Niederdorf close to his atelier where customers can explore his line of bespoke and beautifully crafted handbags.

After having heard all about the newest color trends, the ladies had a lot of fun choosing the perfect color combinations for their handmade watch travel case they were gifted with. While enjoying great food and a glass of champagne, the ladies indulged in wonderful conversations with each other. Coming back to women and watches, it is actually not  so complicated … we just want the best!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Fabrizio Vignali @iziophotography for Patek Philippe and © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Today, the release of the world’s probably most coveted timepiece was announced: Patek Philippe is making 170 special versions of its most popular watch, Nautilus Ref. 5711, for Tiffany’s 170th Anniversary.

This is a huge surprise that comes less than a year after Patek Philippe discontinued the famed watch, originally launched in 2006, causing demand and prices to skyrocket.

Thierry Stern with me

Thierry Stern’s decision to make the final 5711s for Tiffany came obviously from the deep history and mutual values of the two companies. Tiffany’s partnership with Patek Philippe began already in 1851, when Antoine Norbert de Patek, seeking the world’s finest retailers for his exquisite timepieces, met Charles Lewis Tiffany at his store in New York. With a simple handshake, the jeweler and watchmaker established a relationship based on integrity and a commitment to excellence that endures to this day.

In 2008, Patek Philippe opened its first U.S. boutique at Tiffany’s Fifth Avenue flagship store, located on the mezzanine level. The elegant space celebrates the watchmaker’s heritage and world-renowned timepieces that are marked «Tiffany & Co.» the only American retailer’s name to appear on the dial of a Patek Philippe watch.

The special Ref. 5711 stainless steel watches with a Tiffany-blue face are said to be sold at select Tiffany boutiques for € 50.000. I am so in love, I have no words. This is truly the holy grail for watch lovers. And you know how much I love turquoise dials… wish me luck!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tiffany & Co. and © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: This post is not sponsored. I am madly in love!

Beginning of 2020, Patek Philippe completed the construction work of its new production building in Geneva and celebrates now the occasion with the launch of a limited-edition timepiece. The exclusive Calatrava in stainless steel with a unique design will cause the hearts of collectors to skip a beat.

It is a tradition at Patek Philippe to accompany key events in its corporate history with the launch of limited-edition commemorative watches. To pay tribute to the commissioning of the new production building, a flagship of impressive size for the creation, development, and production of Patek Philippe watches, the manufacture reasserted its tradition by developing an exclusive, unusually designed Calatrava explicitly for this event.

This new Ref. 6007A-001 Calatrava instantly stands out with its case and broad cambered bezel in polished steel, a very rare material in Patek Philippe’s collections that is particularly coveted among connoisseurs. The design of the dial reflects an inimitable and dynamic face. Be it the railway track scale of the hour circle with triangular markers, the pierced baton hands for the hours and minutes that recall the Ref. 6006 Calatrava (part of the collection since 2017), the integration of the self-winding caliber 324 S C movement with an aperture date at 3 o’clock or the applied Arabic numerals: all these elements contribute to a vibrant and exciting dial architecture. The expressly graphic style emphasizes the technical personality of the dial. At the same time, the gray-blue hue is a signature element accompanied by the subtle circular satin finish that contrasts visibly against the white dial imprints as well as the applied numerals and the white-lacquered hands in white gold with luminous coatings.

In its center, the dial features a «carbon»-style texture that plays with light and can be interpreted as an enigmatic footnote referring to the world of high-tech. Another special feature: The calfskin strap with white decorative seams, the prong buckle, and a delicately embossed structure reminiscent of textile fabrics are coordinated in terms of color and structure to match the dial center.

The commemorative Ref. 6007A-001 Calatrava comes in a limited edition of 1000 watches with a diameter of 40 mm and a sapphire-crystal caseback specially marked with a Calatrava cross and the «New Manufacture 2019» inscription. 2019 is the year when the first work groups moved into the new production building. The exclusive styling of the watch stands as a lasting symbol for this new chapter in the history of Patek Philippe.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Patek Philippe

Yesterday I received the breaking news: Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chanel, Chopard and Tudor leave Baselworld to create a new watch trade show in Geneva with the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH). The show will be held early April 2021 at Palexpo, at the same time as Watches & Wonders (The FHH is the group that organizes what, until this year, has been known as Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH).) This departure follows a number of unilateral decisions made without consultation by Baselworld management, including the postponement of the watch show until January 2021, as well as its inability to meet the brands’ needs and expectations.

The announcement comes as no surprise – as open letters about the fair’s plans and its organizer’s handling of refunds, among other things, have been paramount this past week. Apparently, Baselworld management also opted to reschedule Baselworld 2020 for January 2021 without asking the exhibitors. The dates conflict with a host of other exhibitions around the world in jewelry and watches.

The new show, which will be linked to Watches & Wonders, organized by the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, is to take place at Palexpo. The aim is to offer partner brands the best possible professional platform, applying a shared vision to successfully meet future challenges in the watchmaking industry. It will also give crucial prominence to the sector’s expertise and innovations, both in Switzerland and internationally. Other brands may also be added, according to terms that have not yet been defined. This new event will be geared predominantly towards retailers, the press and VIP customers.

Jean-Frédéric Dufour

Jean-Frédéric Dufour, Chief Executive Officer, Rolex SA, and Board Member, Montres Tudor SA, said: «We have taken part in Baselworld since 1939. Unfortunately, given the way the event has evolved and the recent decisions made by MCH Group, and in spite of the great attachment we had to this watch show, we have decided to withdraw. Following discussions initiated by Rolex, it seemed only natural to create a new event with partners that share our vision and our endless, unwavering support for the Swiss watchmaking sector. This will allow us to present our new watches in line with our needs and expectations, to join forces and better defend the interests of the industry.»

Thierry Stern

Thierry Stern, President, Patek Philippe said: «The decision to leave Baselworld was not an easy one to take for me, being the fourth generation of the Stern family to participate to this traditional yearly event. But life evolves constantly, things change and people change as well, whether it is at the level of those responsible for the watch fair organization, the brands or the clients. We constantly have to adapt ourselves, question what we do, since what was right yesterday may not necessarily be valid today! Today Patek Philippe is not in line with Baselworld’s vision anymore, there have been too many discussions and unsolved problems, trust is no longer present. We need to answer the legitimate needs of our retailers, the clients and the press from around the world. They have to be able to discover the new models from Swiss watchmakers each year, at one time, in one place, and this in the most professional manner possible. That is why, following several discussions with Rolex and in agreement with other participating brands, we have decided to create, all together, a unique event in Geneva, representative of our savoir-faire.»

Frédéric Grangié

Frédéric Grangié, President of CHANEL Watches & Fine Jewellery said: «Like its partners, CHANEL shares the same independence and the same desire to protect and promote the values, know-how, utmost quality and precision of Swiss Watchmaking. This initiative marks a key milestone in the history of CHANEL Watchmaking and is part of a long-term strategy, which began with the launch of this activity in 1987. This exhibition will allow us to present all of our new creations in an environment that meets our high-quality standards.»

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President Chopard et Cie SA said: «Chopard first exhibited at the Basel fair in 1964 with a stand of some 25 square metres. After careful consideration, our family decided to support the Rolex initiative and retire from Baselworld – a painful decision. The creation of this new watch show in Geneva, in parallel to Watches & Wonders, will allow us to better serve our watchmaking partners and our customers. Through the alliance, these grandes maisons will also be able to collaborate in promoting the values and best interests of Swiss watchmaking.»

Jérôme Lambert

Jérôme Lambert, on behalf of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie Council said: «The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie is delighted to welcome a new salon which will strengthen the historical Watches & Wonders event in Geneva next year in early April.»

Further information will be published at a later date, in particular concerning the name of the new watch fair and its organization.

I fear this will be the end, pure and simple, of Baselworld…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands and © Sandra Bauknecht