Valuables With Karla Martinez de Salas: The Vogue Mexico Editor Talks All Things Jewelry

770 Fine Jewelry Fancy Heart diamond bracelet

Ana Khouri Maia diamond and 18-karat gold ring

Tell us about your most special piece? 

My engagement ring that my husband had made with James Taffin. It has a story behind it. I lost my original engagement ring and I wasn’t meant to get an upgrade, but James somehow had started working ceramics and he upgraded it, and it was amazing! My husband got me a Taffin bracelet when my girls were born. I love things that are the classics, like the Cartier nail bracelets, but I love things that are made just for me. The bracelet has a message my husband had engraved with “I love you” in Spanish, and every time I look at it, it’s special. I recently had to send it to be fixed and I felt so weird not wearing it. 

Tell me about your everyday jewelry? 

I don’t switch things up a lot, to be honest. I don’t wear my engagement ring every day, but I wear 2 Mish bands and 1 with brown diamonds and 1 with regular diamonds. I wear a band my husband had made with James Taffin when we moved to Mexico. I have been wearing a Swarovski necklace with triangle diamonds, but it’s not real diamonds. Although everyone says, ‘wow, is that a Harry Winston diamond necklace?!’ I do switch between this Kimberley McDonald necklace that I have had for more than 10 years and this Marlo Laz good luck necklace. Those are the ones that are my go-to.  

Amina Muaddi silver-tone crystal necklace

Marlo Laz mini Porte Bonheur coin necklace

Who is your jewelry icon? 

OK, there are a few. Maria Felix is one of Mexico’s biggest icons and actresses. Cartier made her some of their most incredible pieces, like the baby crocodiles. Mrs. Carolina Herrera has the most stunning pieces. She was wearing these knock-out earrings from Taffin when I saw her the other day, absolutely stunning. Another woman whom I think has the best style, all around in general, is Anita Borzyszkowska (she is a creative strategist & brand director). She is the most low-key person with the most beautiful jewelry collection! She has the perfect watch, the perfect everything. The ex-French Vogue editor-in-chief, Emmanuel Alt, also has the most gorgeous jewelry too. The designer Marie-Helene De Taillac is another icon, she wears colored stones in the most exquisite way. I love the way Tabitha Simmons styles her jewelry, and her personal jewelry is amazing. Jana Pasquel de Shapiro from Munnu Gem Palace; she wears the most incredible Indian jewelry. That was the first time I ever saw Golconda jewelry—those conda diamonds that are so famous and so rare!