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

In this new series, Vogue talks all things jewelry with some of our favorite people. From Vogue stylists to designers to artists, we’ll ask them to share with us their favorite jewelry box treasures. Read on to learn about their most sentimental pieces, what they’ve most recently purchased, where they shop, and what they are obsessing over.

Karla Martinez de Salas is an editor who has worked for the best of the best: American Vogue, The New York Times’ T Magazine, Interview, and W Magazine. She is the editor-in-chief of Vogue Mexico and Latin America and has held the role since 2016. She is passionate about championing Latinx talents in the fashion industry; she’s determined to give young designers a platform to show their work or to bring awareness of the craftsmanship of artists throughout Latin America. Karla got her passion and education in the fashion and jewelry world when she was a market director at T Magazine, and is one of the go-to for anyone on social media wanting to know who is new, what to buy, and what the brands to know are if you head to Mexico. She is mother to twin girls who recently got given a box of Super Smalls Jewelry by a friend of Karla’s, and she’s had to remind them not to wear them to school! And has buying or receiving jewelry made a difference to Karla now she has daughters? “Well, kind of. When I see a ring or a bracelet, I think, I need a pair, right?” 

What was the first and last piece of jewelry you bought for yourself? 

I would have to say the first piece of jewelry I bought myself is one of my Ana Khouri rings. I bought it for myself, not bought by my husband! 

The last piece of jewelry I bought was this little bracelet that I got from one of our Espacio Vogue pop-ups. It’s a red and gold chain, very simple from 770 jewelry, a line of jewelry from these Venezuelan girls in Miami. I discover so many little jewelers at these events, and always buy things for myself and my friends too. 

Tell us about your most special piece? 

My engagement ring that my husband had made with Taffin’s designer James de Givenchy. 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 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. My husband had the bracelet 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 two Mish bands, another one with brown diamonds, and another one with regular diamonds. I wear a band my husband had made with James de Givenchy when we moved to Mexico. I have been wearing a Swarovski necklace with triangle diamonds, but they’re 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 my go-tos.  

Who is your jewelry icon? 

Okay, there are a few. María Félix 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 and brand director). She is the most low-key person with the most beautiful jewelry collection! She has the perfect watch, the perfect everything. Former French Vogue editor-in-chief, Emmanuel Alt, also has the most gorgeous jewelry. 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, 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! 

What is a dream piece you would like to add to your collection? 

A vintage Cartier Tank solo. That is my dream, and I would get myself that. There is also this South American designer called Paola Pacheco, and she makes these amazing chunky gold bracelets. And a coil bracelet from Sidney Garber! 

Favorite place to buy jewelry?

I love giving the young designers an opportunity to show their collection with these Vogue Espacio events. In Mexico, more private trunk shows. My friend Claudia Ortego represents Dezso Sara Baltran—it’s a more salon-style experience. I loved Aerin Lauder’s little guide on Rome when I was in the city. Stephen Russell, Fred Leighton. I really feel like my jewelry education was definitely received through the fashion department at Vogue and W. Those places for me were the best places to find jewelry! A lot of the approach in Mexico is to do smaller sales, a more experimental style, and it’s very common in Mexico to have these bazaars like Vogue Espacio where you can find the smaller brands and for all price ranges. Some of my favorite places to find jewelry are on social media. I love what The Stax is doing, and I find photographers who shoot jewelry well still so inspiring. They make me want to buy jewelry. People I follow, like Claudia Mata, Will’s Notebook, Maria Dueñas, all have great stuff. 

What are you obsessing over right now? 

A Van Cleefs and Arpels Le Perlee bracelet! I want one.