Sandra‘s Closet

Last week, I went one day to the famous International Jewelry and Watch Show in Basel, Switzerland: BASELWORLD. In the morning, I was picked up by Tesla for my first ride ever in an electric super car and brought directly to the VIERI showroom, located in a beautiful location in St. Margrethen, Binningen, to explore their stunning new Haute Joaillerie collections.

I have become a huge fan of the jewelry brand lately that is looking back at over 70 years of experience in the jewelry industry. Launched in Pforzheim, Germany, the company moved its headquarters to Switzerland in 1999. Not long ago, I met Guya Merkle, granddaughter of VIERI founder Rudolf Merkle, through common friends. I was fascinated by her taste and vision. The charming 28-year-old took over the management of the company spontaneously in 2007, following her father’s sudden death. Since then, VIERI has produced all its collections in Valenza, a small municipality in northern Italy famed for its gold and jewelry.

Under the forward-looking leadership of Guya, VIERI Haute Joaillerie has been moving into a new era. »What is true luxury? Shouldn’t a luxury product have a positive effect on everyone who comes into contact with it?« Guya decided to give the company her personal stamp and to instil it with her own values. She travelled to Peru to get a true picture of working conditions in several gold mines – an experience that left a deep and lasting impression on her.

Afterwards, she founded earthbeat foundation, a foundation for responsible gold mining, and transformed VIERI into one of the first high-end jewelry companies to work exclusively with ethically sourced gold.

Please enjoy some more of VIERI’s impressive designs below:

Lily Collier Fireworks

VIERI – Lily Ring Fireworks

VIERI by Bibi van der Velden – The Pearls Light Earrings

VIERI by Bibi van der Velden – The Cobweb Bracelet

For further information, please visit the VIERI homepage.
More from my visit to the Baselworld 2014 coming up soon!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Vieri and © Sandra Bauknecht

Last week, MCM‘s first European flagship store opened its doors in Zurich. As you already know, I felt very honoured to be the blogger host for this wonderful event.

My relationship with MCM dates back to my early college years when I designed a complete collection for the German brand that was founded by Michael Cromer in Munich in the Mid ’70s as ‘Michael Cromer Munich‘ (MCM). Today, it belongs to Sungjoo Design Tech & Distribution, and has been renamed ‘Mode Creation Munich‘ (MCM).

The company’s owner Sung-Joo Kim, a very fascinating lady, had flown in from South Korea for the event along with some famous celebrities. She was ranked among the “Top 50 Women to Watch” by the Wall Street Journal in 2004 and selected as one of the “New Century Leaders” in CNN for the Best of Asia in 2003.

The new amazing colossal MCM store, located at the iconic Münsterhof, offers 160 square metres full of the brand’s must-haves.

Bettina Zollinger, store manager MCM Zurich, with me at the opening party.

Adrian J. Margelist, Chief Creative Officer MCM, with me in front of the shop. I am carrying the Veronika Isis studded shoulder bag from MCM’s upcoming F/W 2014 collection. For all details regarding my look, please click here.

To celebrate the first European flagship store, MCM released an exclusive Zurich Visetos line. The luxurious special edition, only available in Zurich is inspired by the city’s coat of arms, featuring a unique blue and white colourway available on various classic shapes.

How cute are these MCM doggies?!

The party crowd outside…

Spotted: Guya Merkle, owner and designer of Vieri Haute Joaillerie, the luxurious high end jewelry brand.

German actor Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht

Renowned South Korean actor Sang-Woo Kwon

Another famous guest: Designer Albert Kriemler, Creative Director of Akris.

At work

Lovely Fiona Hefti compèred the event.

The ribbon cutting ceremony

Later, I was invited to the official dinner held at the Zunfthaus zur Waag, during which Swiss singer Paloma Würth performed some of her songs. The highlight of the menu was definitely the logo cake for dessert.

Thank you, MCM, for this beautiful event!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MCM, Tillate and © Sandra Bauknecht