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Chanel photo

A Chanel sapphire and diamond ring as seen on The Wonder Room website

Selfridges.com

The Wonder Room leaves us wondering, and planning a visit

I may not be in the market for a new piece of jewelry at the moment. But that doesn’t mean I can’t do some window shopping on the web to stay informed.

Today’s research takes me to Selfridges in London, or more specifically, their website. I had been reading a WWD dispatch, which mentioned American accessories designer Kara Ross has launched a bespoke bag service at Selfridges. Clients are able to have crocodile-skin bags dyed any color of the Pantone rainbow and can choose precious gemstones for the clasp. Ross also is offering bags in ostrich, lizard, python, stingray and karung. “The possibilities are endless,” Ross told WWD. “And if clients want a ruby, emerald or sapphire on the bag, I’ll go out of my way to source it.”

Ross also sells her fine jewelry through Browns and her bags and accessories at Harvey Nichols, Harrods, Joseph, Matches and Net-a-porter.com.

Pursuing the jeweled handbag matter further, I went to the Selfridges site, where I discovered The Wonder Room. How in blazes I could not have been aware that Selfridges has a separate website for its jewelry department I do not know. But all that matters is I do now.

After clicking around for several minutes, I have to admit I was disappointed. There are lists of jewelry and watch brands including Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chrome Hearts, Pomellato and Chanel. Each is accompanied by a short bio and intriguing photos. But that’s it. Because The Wonder Room is not an e-commerce site, there are no product descriptions or prices. Are those sapphires and diamonds on the de Grisogono starfish that wraps around the wrist? And what about the pink and black gemstones on the serpent winding its way through a Theo Fennell heart pendant?

I suppose I will have to visit Selfridges to find out more, and on that count – as a tool to entice – The Wonder Room website is a great success.