Before Philips introduced its Compact Cassette in
1963 and effectively undermined analogue tape’s
audiophile credentials, the reel-to-reel tape player was
the cognoscenti’s choice for unparalleled sound quality.
At the moment, enthusiasts lovingly maintain vintage
players and fork out £200-£500 for copies of albums on
quarter-inch tape. But audio equipment makers are
working on a wider reel-to-reel revival: a recently leaked
image of a new reel-to-reel prototype from Swiss brand
ReVox, possibly playback-only, had audiophiles all
of a quiver, while Dutch firm Metaxas has also shown
images of a mouthwatering concept. Düsseldorf-based
manufacturer Ballfinger is ahead of the curve with its
new M063 (pictured right), beating more established
brands to the post with sales due to start in May.
Tonbandmaschine M063, ballfinger.deThe reel dealDETAILS FROM DIEZ’S STUDIO,
WHERE SHE CREATES AND SELLS
HER DESIGNS. HER CURRENT
COLLECTION INCLUDES THE
SUPER-LONG DANGLE EARRINGS
THAT ARE SOMETHING OF
A TRADEMARK (LEFT). ‘I OFTEN
START WITH PAPER CUT-OUTS,
THEN ENLARGE THE PICTURE
AND TRY SHIFTING IT IN DIFFERENT
DIRECTIONS, BEFORE REDUCING
IT AGAIN, UNTIL I AM NOT
ABLE TO REDUCE ANOTHER DETAIL
WITHOUT CHANGING ITS
CHARACTER. BUT THE BEAUTY
OF JEWELLERY IS THAT THE
FEELING IT CREATES WHEN YOU
WEAR IT IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN HOW IT LOOKS’in sterling silver, when it is a delicate piece in gold, it is
done in 18ct gold. When you see pearls, they are real.
I also work with leather, wood, rock crystal and different
stones. Relation and realness are important to me.’
Perhaps it’s her grounded approach that is central
to Diez’s success, for despite the pull of the global
fashion arena, she is content to evolve in her own way,
in her native Munich. ‘My studio is located near to the
river Isar. I grew up near a lake and wherever I go I like
to be near water. Also, when it comes to crafts and
sourcing, Germany is a treasure box. The level of
perfection you get here is outstanding; real laboratories
where people combine traditional crafts with modern
techniques. There’s a kind of Homo faber attitude.’
The jeweller’s current collection includes the
super-long earrings that are something of a Dieztrademark. They are created using silver box chain,
a 1980s high-street jewellery stalwart. Yet Diez’s
product designer’s sleight of hand means that classic
engineering allows her necklaces, asymmetric earrings
and chains to ‘dance’ on the body in a way precisely
managed by the designer.
This month, she unveils a new collaboration with
cult New York accessories label Pan & The Dream,
makers of superfine Italian tulle socks. The result is
a highly covetable tulle neck scarf, Diez-spangled with
artfully considered silver sequins. If it sounds whimsical,
Diez’s feet are, of course, firmly on the ground:
‘The moment you have an idea is a nice one. But it’s
the one where you feel that you’ve got somewhere, that
you’ve got something right that is really precious.’
saskia-diez.comPHOTOGRAPHY: HUDSON HAYDEN WRITER: KEN KESSLERGermany
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