An icon does not change, it adapts to the passing of time by capturing and sculpting it, by enhancing and understanding it. At the dawn of its 20th anniversary, the CHANEL J12 watch has transformed without losing its essence. Let’s look into the past, present and future of this timeless icon.
20 years ago, when Jacques Helleu, artistic director of the House, decided to create a watch, he designed it for himself. While drafting his first pencil lines he imagined it as timeless, sporty and all black. His inspiration came from the two worlds he loved most: automobiles and sailing. He admired the chassis lines of racing cars and, above all, the regal silhouettes of the America’s Cup racing class, the J12. The watch would take this as its name. In the year 2000, J12 revolutionized the world of watchmaking. In black ceramic, it was crowned the first watch icon of the 21st century.
20 years after its creation, Arnaud Chastaingt, director of the CHANEL Watch Creation Studio gave the J12 a makeover without touching the very identity that built its legend. The latest J12 now has a one-piece ceramic case equipped with a sapphire crystal so the new 12.1 caliber automatic movement, specially developed by the new Suisse KENISSI Manufacture, can be seen to be admired. The thickness of the case was slightly increased while maintaining the J12’s fluid lines, and the bezel was refined to increase the dial opening. The hours and minutes hands are now the same width with a dimensional adjustment of the luminescent areas in black Superluminova on the black J12 and in white on the white J12, for a negative effect.
The J12 watch constantly renews the allure of a woman’s wrist. Want a closer look? Drop by CHANEL Watches and Fine Jewellery at Harbour City. Discover the pure design of this timeless icon.
