STYLE Edit: Chanel celebrates iconic J12 diving watch’s 20th anniversary with new movement
The French luxury brand’s black or white ceramic timepiece looks largely unchanged, but now has an impressive Calibre 12.1, self-winding movement
Beautiful and brainy. Chanel the fashion brand proved itself in the beauty stakes decades ago and Chanel the watchmaker has taken its place at the forefront of haute horlogerie with its highly intelligent approach.
Chanel Watches has relaunched its ceramic diving watch, the J12, on its 20th anniversary with an appearance that is largely unchanged, but now powered by a new Calibre 12.1, self-winding movement.
To augment its credentials as a top-tier watchmaker, Chanel has bought a stake in Kenissi, the Swiss watch movement manufacturer that created the movement.
The Calibre 12.1 can be seen in all its glory through the transparent back of the case of the J12, which now carries the important COSC certification of the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute.
Although some details have been refined, the good looks of the J12 remain unaltered.
In white or black ceramic with a steel lacquered dial, the sports watch has a clean, uncluttered appearance, which belies its functionality.
At 38mm, it is an assertive and streamlined fashion accessory with the screw-down steel crown topped by a ceramic cabochon. The ceramic link bracelet is closed by a steel, triple-folding buckle.
The subtle redesign by Chanel Watch Creation Studio enhances the J12 while not changing its iconic looks.