Watches and Wonders 2023: The dreamiest Chanel timepieces inspired by the stars
Power of the cosmos
The big, beautiful galaxy has long been an inspiration to many—whether in art, design, music, technology and even spiritual exploration. Made up of at least one billion stars, Its mystery and majestic beauty spark imagination, creativity and dares us to imagine the impossible and to think beyond our limits.
For this year’s Watches and Wonders offerings, the Chanel Watchmaking Creation Studio looks to the stars to create an otherworldly capsule collection—Chanel Interstellar—that takes us away from the everyday mundane. From a whimsical pixelated motif to sparkling star charms, not to mention a cute 3D robot-like construction, all made with utmost precision and intricate craftsmanship, read on for the latest updates from the world of Chanel Haute Horlogerie.
J12
“I have a really special connection to this watch. It’s one of the timepieces that have inspired me for a long time, even before I started working for Chanel. The first time I discovered it, I was around 20 years old. I found that it’s different from what I’ve seen before in the watch world and was attracted to the authority of the design,” says Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of Chanel’s Watchmaking Creation Studio of the iconic J12.
This year’s new designs include the J12 Cybernetic, a one-of-a-kind graphic interpretation, which comes with a white pixelated motif contrasting its black ceramic bezel and lacquered dial. Next, the Mademoiselle J12 Cosmic Calibre 12.1 sees a cute silhouette of Gabrielle Chanel with her hands pointing at the time. Then, there’s the J12 Interstellar, which showcases the most beautiful, glittering starry night dial, embellished with six diamonds and a single comet moving through the sky. Another worthy mention is the J12 Cosmic, which features whimsical cosmic motifs revealed against a luminous dial, lit up by the sparkle of 12 diamonds.
Première
The typically graceful timepiece sees an unexpected yet truly charming refresh with the presence of a yellow gold and black titanium 3D robot set with four brilliant-cut diamonds. It is further enhanced by a rubber strap with a velvet touch and 18K yellow gold ardillon buckle. On the other hand, the Première Lucky Star offers a single lucky star charm—set with six diamonds—alongside a steel case illuminated by 52 brilliant diamonds in contrast to a glittering black dial. An even more elevated, sparkling iteration, the Hyper Lucky Star comes in an 8K white gold case with an 18K white gold case back and dial set with 116 brilliant-cut diamonds, in addition to a white gold bracelet strap set with 162 diamonds.
Boy.Friend
The simplicity of the Boy.Friend dial is enriched with a unique, rhodium-plated printed circuit board design in black lacquer, set with 54 brilliant-cut diamonds in its latest iteration, the Cyberdata. Adding to its magnetic allure is an interchangeable patent black quilted calfskin strap with silver calfskin lining and a steel ardillon buckle. A high-precision quartz movement powers this timepiece.
Code Coco
The undeniable glamour of the Code Coco Cybergold will amaze you at first glance. Featuring a gilded gold quilted leather bracelet with black trimmings and embossed with six gold-plated letters spelling out Chanel, this is the timepiece to sport if attention is what you seek. Furthermore, the watch features two black lacquered dials—one with two gold hands telling the time and the other set with a single princess-cut diamond—for that extra touch of luxury.
Monsieur De Chanel
Chanel’s first dedicated men’s watch collection adds the Tourbillon Meteorite to its lineup. Powered by the Calibre 5.1—a flying tourbillon mechanical movement with manual winding—the timepiece offers precise movements and time-telling accuracy, along with a power reserve of 72 hours. Zoom in, and you’ll notice two unique elements on its black ceramic case. First, the House emblem, a lion, sits right in the centre of the tourbillon cage, turning with the rhythm of the seconds. Secondly, much like its name, the dial is made using a fragment of a meteorite, making each piece unlike the other.
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