The famous Parisian fashion house, famous for its clothes and jewelry, has proven in recent years that it is also a highly skilled watchmaker, managing to transfer the elegance and charm of its timeless creations to the wrist as well. This year, at Watches & Wonders, Chanel presented several novelties, including an incredible reinterpretation of the iconic J12, for the first time in blue ceramic.
Let us now find out all the details within this article.
Chanel and watchmaking
Chanel’s history in the world of watchmaking began in 1987, when the maison decided to enter the hand sector with an innovative proposal that brought its unmistakable savoir-faire and sophistication. The first watch produced, the Première, was entirely dedicated to the female audience and echoed the design of the cap of the maison’s most famous fragrance, the Chanel N°5. This watch was the starting point of a journey that would see Chanel establish itself as one of the world’s most recognized luxury watch brands.
In 2000, with the creation of the J12, Chanel watchmaking took a quantum leap forward. Designed by artistic director Jacques Helleu, the J12 is distinguished by its use of high-tech ceramic, an innovative material that offers strength and lightness. Available in white and black variants, the J12 marks a true revolution in the world of luxury watchmaking.
Since 2016, Chanel has been making its watches entirely in Switzerland, specifically in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the iconic city of high-end watchmaking, where the brand has brought its in-house manufacturing, with the aim of making increasingly exclusive products of impeccable quality.
The new Chanel J12 Bleu: a new elegance
Twenty-five years after the launch of the J12, Chanel has decided to revamp it and dress it in a new color: matte blue. This new hue, first unveiled at Watches and Wonders, was developed by the fashion house specifically for the J12, and is the result of no less than five years of research and experimentation.
As Arnaud Chastaingt, director of Chanel’s Watchmaking Creation Studio, points out, “I dreamed of giving black a color, of illuminating it with blue. The final choice of this particular blue was like an epiphany[…] I wanted a blue that had a rigorous elegance, a blue that was almost black or a black that was almost blue “. Blue ceramic, seven times stronger than steel and also lighter, is a material that gives these watches unparalleled durability.
The J12 Bleu was made in two case sizes: 38mm for a bolder presence on the wrist and 33mm to fit even smaller wrists, while still maintaining elegance and refinement. The automatic movement, which varies between 12.1 caliber for the larger version and 12.2 caliber for the smaller version, is manufactured in the Kenissi factories, and all models are COSC certified, a guarantee of precision and reliability.
Chanle J12 Bleu Sapphires: A Bright Tribute to Luxury
In addition to the standard models, Chanel also unveiled the J12 Bleu Sapphires version, available in 42mm and 28mm case diameter variants. This special edition expresses the perfect marriage of watchmaking tradition and timeless luxury. The models are embellished with 48 baguette-cut blue sapphires above the bezel, 12 on the dial and 110 in the bracelet, capable of capturing light and giving the watch an extraordinary brilliance.
Both versions are powered by Caliber 12.1, with a power reserve of 70 hours, just as on the model without stones.
Chanel J12 Bleu high jewelry
Not only aesthetic and technical innovation, but also a true expression of luxury. The J12 Bleu is also enriched with versions in which blue ceramic is combined with diamonds and movements of the highest quality. An outstanding example of this fusion is the new J12 Bleu with a flying tourbillon positioned at 6 o’clock, set with a diamond that rotates to the rhythm of the seconds.
This sophisticated mechanism is accompanied by a skeletonized dial, which allows one to admire the new Caliber 5, which is also visible through the transparent case back. In addition, the bezel of the watch is embellished with no fewer than 34 baguette-cut blue sapphires , which perfectly harmonize with the blue ceramic case. Only 55 lucky people will be awarded this timepiece, given its extreme limitedness.
Among the most fascinating versions of the collection is the J12 Bleu X-Ray, which catches the eye with its unique design and the possibility to fully observe the 3.1 caliber through the transparent dial, giving the watch an almost futuristic dimension. Made entirely of sapphire, this watch shows the brand’s ability to master these materials. Comprising 196 baguette-cut blue sapphires, it took 1,600 hours of work to complete this masterpiece. To enhance the rarity of this timepiece, only 12 pieces were made.
Prices and conclusions
With this new collection, Chanel once again proves its ability to combine technical innovation and timeless elegance, establishing itself not only in the field of fashion, but also in the field of high-class watchmaking.
Even as a price Chanel fits into the mid-range of the market, with a starting list of EUR 11,000 for the J12 Bleu; with the addition of sapphire indexes the price rises to EUR 25,500. The other watches, however, are priced on demand, given their complexity and rarity.
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