Sotheby's at Bucherer
Luxury Week Geneva Exhibition at Bucherer Zurich
A Brief History of the Hermès Birkin
The Hermès Birkin bag is an icon in the fashion world, highly sought-after by celebrities and the handbag-obsessed. The Hermès bag’s design is a collaboration between Jane Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. The two met on a flight from Paris to London in 1984. Birkin confided in Dumas that she lacked a purse with appropriate functionality for her fast-paced lifestyle. Out of this conversation, the Birkin 40 in chic calfbox leather was born. The Birkin’s practical design featuring two rolled handles, a flap top, clou “feet,” and a lock closure continues to resonate today. The Birkin remains a coveted Hermès handbag thanks to its signature Hermès craftsmanship and exclusivity. This Hermès bag takes expert artisans a minimum of 18 hours to create and is marked with a code that identifies its year of creation, the workshop it was crafted in, and the artisan who made it.
THE GENIUS OF FRANÇOIS-PAUL JOURNE
François-Paul Journe can be considered as one of the most influential watchmakers in recent times. He brilliantly succeeded to blend classical watchmaking with his own eclectic vision, through his very distinctive design and watchmaking savoir-faire.
The Tourbillon was at the very core of F.P. Journe’s genesis and inspiration. At only 25 years old he realised his first watch, little surprise it included a tourbillon and on top of it a detent escapement.
The F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain is a landmark in contemporary independent watchmaking. Designed by Francois-Paul Journe in 1999 to begin his venture with his own brand, the creation of this model was an immediate success as it not only harnesses a highly complicated Tourbillon movement, but it was also the first and only wristwatch to feature a remontoir mechanism (constant force device). The combination of both mechanisms allows energy within the watch to be evenly dispersed along the multiple gears from beginning to end. The watch has immediately become a staple piece for F.P. Journe and has won them many horological awards.
CARTIER, TIMELESS CREATIONS
When tracing the history of Cartier’s iconic jewellery design style, there is one name that continually emerges as the ultimate tastemaker: Jeanne Toussaint. This Amethyst and citrine bangle was inspired by Jeanne Toussaint's designs from the 40s, the alluring purity of the style would easily captivate any jewellery collectors’ attention.
GOLDSMITH OF GALANTERIES
Gold boxes were among the supreme luxuries of 18th-century Europe, essential for any stylish lady or gentleman.
Johann Christian Neuber, an 'artisan maker of galanteries' to Frederick Augustus III of Saxony in Dresden. Both Neuber’s decorative Zellenmosaik boxes and the portable mineralogical Galanterien, the so-called Steinkabinette, are used as royal gifts, were disseminated across Europe by wealthy tourists visiting Dresden.
