Sandra‘s Closet

The padlock-shaped Kelly watch appears in a whole new light expressing its free-spirited attitude.

On a slender metal bracelet, set with diamonds or worn as a sautoir, the Kelly watch born in 1975, is reinvented in a light- hearted way. This mischievious, daring and fashionable jewellery watch reveals new facets of its femininity in motion. Inspired by the emblematic handbag designed by Robert Dumas in the 1930s, its ideally sized padlock case lends itself to new ways of being worn. The clean-cut lines and original gemsetting approaches reaffirm the rigorous yet playful style of this Hermès watchmaking icon.

An elegant rose gold or steel bracelet composed of elaborate metalwork embraces the wrist in a delightfully companionable manner. Its links pick up the design of the legendary four-studded clasp serving to secure and open the padlock.

Adorned with diamonds or fine regular striations, the case beautifully frames a dial in natural white mother-of-pearl on the rose gold models and in spangled white lacquer on the steel models. The gemset watches feature a diamond at 12 o’clock, matched by studded hour-markers, echoing the decoration on the clasp. The distinctively daring Kelly watch plays with complete freedom on its pluralistic nature.

I am completely obsessed with this watch and had to share it with you!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Every second year, the Biennale des Antiquaires takes place in Paris in the gorgeous halls of the Grand Palais. Whenever I look at its sinuous, cast-iron Art Nouveau balconies and curlicue stairways, I feel like being in another century. Personally speaking, it is one of the most fascinating places in the French capital and I couldn’t imagine a better backdrop for the most important event in the jewelry calendar. I was invited by Piaget as in 2012 (for the previous post, please click here) and was able to discover the house’s amazingly beautiful EXTREMELY PIAGET collection firsthand.

For the 27th edition of the Biennale des Antiquaires, interior designer Jacques Grange paid homage to Versailles and its French gardens with flowerbeds and foliage. The most stunning part was the scented indoor fountain in the center under the gigantic glass dome that master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian had transformed into an olfactory experience.

At the Piaget booth, I indulged in the most stunning High Jewellery pieces you can imagine. This year, Piaget is celebrating its 140th anniversary and to celebrate this occasion, the company seeked inspiration for its EXTREMELY PIAGET collection from its stellar period in its creative history from the 1960s and 70s. The pieces are enhanced by the most precious materials: diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, hard stones and gold.

The collection is also characterized by great freedom of movement and multiple ways of beings worn. Personally speaking, it was the youngest and most modern collection at the Biennale des Antiquaires this year. You could easily imagine to wear it to a black tie gala or with jeans and a white tee like for example this beautiful bracelet with turquoises from Arizona above.

Let me show you my favorite pieces of the 125 that were presented:

Necklace in 18k white gold set with 46 turquoise beads (approx. 301cts), 48 chrysoprase beads (approx. 42cts), 1 emerald-cut cabochon (approx. 23.14cts), per-shaped chrysoprases, pear-shaped turquoises and brilliant-cut diamonds.

Sautoir exceptional High Jewellery watch in platinum set with 195 marquise-cut diamonds (approx. 66.20 cts), 282 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 33.20 cts), 35 cushion-cut diamonds (approx. 16.30 cts) and 16 pear-cut diamonds (approx. 7.60 cts).  Piaget 56P quartz movement.

Necklace in 18K white gold set with 84 blue sapphire beads from Sri Lanka(approx. 127.40 cts), 490 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 41.69 cts) and 1 cushion-cut emerald from Columbia(approx. 19.39 cts).

Sautoir watch fishnet mesh in 18K white gold set with 404 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 31.30 cts).  Piaget 56P quartz movement.

Bracelet in 18K pink gold set with 8 pink opal plates (approx. 23.25 cts), 18 turquoise beads (approx. 5.31 cts) and 220 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 1.81 cts).

Cuff watch in 18K white gold set with 1’699 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 20.50 cts) (snow-setting). Natural opal dial. Piaget 56P quartz movement.

Ear cuffs in 18K white gold set with 28 marquise-cut diamonds (approx. 11.59 cts) and 20 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 4.48 cts).

Ring with a sapphire (approx. 7 cts) and 10 diamonds in pear cut and 2 marquise diamonds (approx. 7.5 cts together).

I fell not only in love with this piece… The EXTREMELY PIAGET collection marks the continuity of the brand’s presence in the world of High Jewellery. The 1960s and 70s were some of their most innovative years – and the same is true of 2014. Congratulations, Piaget, for this amazing collection!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Here is the look I wore to the launch party for Chloé‘s new fragrance LOVE STORY over the rooftops of Paris last month. I went for a vintage Chloé look with lots of different accessories from the French Maison. The brand is known for its nonchalant and timeless allure.

My look: Mint green collarless jacket by Marni, cream white dress, sautoir, earrings, statement necklace, chunky bracelet and leather bracelet, shoes and golden clutch with bow, all by Chloé, Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © 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