Since establishing its watch-making division back in 1987, Chanel has steadily emerged as one of the top names in the world of luxury timepieces. With celebrity wearers including Angelina Jolie and Kirsten Dunst, it is little wonder that the manufacturer’s watches have become highly sought after status symbols.
Although traditionally associated with ladies’ and unisex models, Chanel have recently branched out by designing dedicated men’s models too, increasing the anticipation of new releases from the brand. In this article, we take a closer look at some of the new models the company showcased at this year’s Baselworld Fair.
1. Premiere Camellia Skeleton Caliber 2
Chanel’s foray into the watch-making field began with the release of the Premiere and this year marks the model’s 30th anniversary. To celebrate, the brand has released a new version of the rectangular watch, featuring a skeletonized dial. The new release is available in standard, diamond set and fully diamond set options.
All of these models are powered by the second exclusive in-house movement manufactured by Chanel, which is known as Caliber 2. The movement has been carefully designed, with skeletonized bridges spiraling outwards from it, creating the central dial pattern, which resembles a Camellia flower.
2. Mademoiselle J12 “Snoopy Watch”
One of the most interesting new releases comes in the form of the Mademoiselle J12, which is Chanel’s playful take on the classic Snoopy Watch developed by Timex in the late 1960s. On it, a cartoon version of Coco Chanel is positioned in the center of the dial, with the figure’s arms serving as the watch hands.
Aside from the unique centerpiece, the watch is very much what you would expect from a J12 model. It has a round case shape, is unisex, offers water resistance for up to 200 meters and has a 42 hour power reserve. Black or white ceramic versions are available in limited edition, with 555 of each model being released to the public.
3. Monsieur De Chanel Limited Edition Platinum
Without question, the biggest Chanel wristwatch release of 2016 was the Monsieur De Chanel, which was the brand’s first ever dedicated men’s wristwatch. This year, the collection has received a new addition in the form of a platinum model, with a “Grand Feu” enamel dial.
As with last year’s models, the new Monsieur De Chanel is powered by the in-house Caliber 1 movement and boasts an impressive 72 hour power reserve. The watch itself features a perfectly round case and two notable complications – an instant-jumping hours indicator and a minute indicator – along with a more traditional seconds sub-dial.
4. Mademoiselle Privé Aubazine Décor
Finally, Chanel also used Baselworld 2017 to unveil a new addition to their Mademoiselle Privé collection, which pays tribute to meaningful symbols in the life of Gabrielle Chanel. In the case of the Aubazine Décor model, its design was inspired by the stained glass windows of Aubazine abbey, where she spent time as a child.
The dial of the watch has a stunning pattern, resembling a stained glass window, while the bezel is adorned with precious diamonds. The case itself has a perfectly round shape, while the dial features only a minutes and and hours hand, adding a sense of simplicity to the exquisite timepiece.
