The Maison
Portrait
Originating in a tradition that combines watchmaking and jewellery expertise, CHANEL watches take a uniquely precious approach to time. For 30 years, the brand has pursued its vision of watchmaking that renews the codes of time measurement. From the PREMIÈRE in 1987 to the iconic J12 and the MONSIEUR, its first men's watch, CHANEL has continued to break new ground and explore the techniques of watchmaking with one ambition: to give time a unique allure.
History
The Haute Couture house which Gabrielle CHANEL founded in the early 20th century presented its first collection of watches in 1987. The PREMIÈRE watch stayed true to CHANEL's identity with its octagonal shape, inspired by Place Vendôme and the N°5 perfume cabochon stopper.In 1993 CHANEL acquired Manufacture G&F Châtelain in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.The year 2000 was a milestone in CHANEL's watchmaking history with the launch of the J12 collection. Inspired by sailing, the J12 watch gave ceramic, a revolutionary material, its watchmaking credentials. Deepest black in 2000, all-over white in 2003, the J12 brings together day and night, masculine and feminine, strength and elegance, mystery and clarity.CHANEL entered the world of grandes complications in 2005 with the J12 Tourbillon. Its collection has continued to grow ever since. In 2011, CHANEL invented a new colour of ceramic that gave rise to the J12 CHROMATIC.A year later, the Mademoiselle Privé collection was launched as a showcase for the most subtle métiers d'art.In 2015 CHANEL launched the BOY - FRIEND, a watch with masculine style intended entirely for women, and a superbly sober design with its pure, octagonal form.The first movement to be designed, developed and made by Manufacture CHANEL in Switzerland made its debut in 2016. This CALIBRE 1 with jumping hours and instantaneous retrograde minutes launched the M£ONSIEUR DE CHANEL collection.Thirty years after the PREMIÈRE, the magic of CHANEL watches is as powerful as ever, whatever the size, the choice of materials, the gem-setting or the complexity of the movement.
