The J12 first came onto the watchmaking scene in the year 2000 with an all-black ceramic case and bracelet designed by Jacques Helleu. The black version was followed by an all-white version in 2003, and two years later, in 2005, Chanel entered the world of grandes complications with the first J12 Tourbillon.
Today, the J12 collection continues to grow with two new models being unveiled at Watches and Wonders 2022 – a J12 in 33mm and a J12 Diamond Tourbillon with a new in-house flying tourbillon movement. Let’s take a closer look.
J12 33mm with Calibre 12.2
This new 33mm size J12, available in both black and white ceramic, was designed by Arnault Chastaingt, Director of Chanel’s Watchmaking Creation Studio in Paris. It is not only the smaller diameter that is of note, however, the timepiece is also powered by a small and precise self-winding movement.
This Calibre 12.2 was designed and developed exclusively by the Swiss Manufacture Kenissi for Chanel and is manufactured and assembled by the French Maison’s own Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
This new movement is visible through a sapphire caseback and is endowed with an oscillating mass in the form of a perfect circle, the signature of Chanel watchmaking. It is also COSC-certified and has a power reserve of 50 hours.
J12 Diamond Tourbillon
The J12 Diamond Tourbillon marks a new chapter in the J12 with the arrival of the Maison’s first in-house, manual-winding, flying tourbillon – the Calibre 5 – that can be admired from both the front and the back of the wristwatch.
The design is also the work of Arnault Chastaingt, who has included a stunning solitaire diamond in the centre of the tourbillon cage. This beautifully cut diamond rotates at the speed of seconds, creating a hypnotic effect as the tourbillon turns. A ring of diamonds also frames the tourbillon cage, creating additional sparkle to the scene. But it doesn’t end there, the hands are also set with brilliant-cut diamonds and the bezel is set with large diamond baguettes. On the caseback, the mechanism is adorned with a lion’s head, another Chanel signature design element.
The timepiece comes in black with a choice of matt black ceramic and steel (without a diamond bezel) or in glossy black ceramic and 18-karat white gold; both of which are limited to 55 pieces.
