CHANEL embellishes its latest collection with the very tools that its founder used to establish the brand
By The Time Place Magazine
CHANEL presents the the J12 Couture Workshop Automaton Caliber 6 Watch
When it comes to luxury, nothing comes close to CHANEL. A Maison that has endured the passage of time, tastes and trends, its prominence and lasting legacy can be attributed to the woman who gave her name and passion to evoke quality craftsmanship.
Gabrielle Chanel was a pioneer. She was a strong, independent woman who paved her own path despite the many hurdles and challenges she faced. Someone who stayed true to her craft and used it to empower other women through exceptionally made fashion, Mademoiselle Chanel was, and continues to be a great source of inspiration for the brand that she founded in 1910.
This year, CHANEL takes a look back at the humble beginnings of the brand and pays tribute to its talented seamstresses and their exceptional savoir-faire in the new CHANEL Haute Horlogerie and Horlogerie capsule collection: COUTURE O’CLOCK. Thimbles, scissors, pins, as well as the other tools of the daily work in the rue Cambon ateliers take centre stage. They depict the very essence of the brand—fine craftsmanship, exquisite quality, and a rich legacy—and serve as playful, albeit important, symbols of what CHANEL has to offer.
The J12 Couture Workshop Automaton Caliber 6 Watch boasts a matt black highly resistant ceramic case
Comprised of timepieces, jewellery, as well as a unique piece, the COUTURE O’CLOCK collection blends fine watchmaking, haute jewellery and the highest artistry. Furthermore, the iconic watches of the House of CHANEL are enriched with new interpretations combining creative boldness, technical sophistication, excellence of materials, and refinement of details.
This includes fascinating takes on a number of the Maison’s prevalent collections: Mademoiselle Prive, Première, BOY.FRIEND, Code Coco, and the J12. A staple element in dressmaking, the pin cushion is immortalised in the Mademoiselle Prive Pincushion Cuff Couture, while the button is highlighted in the Mademoiselle Prive Bouton Gabrielle Watch. Meanwhile, a tape measure motif is printed on the double-wrapped black and gold leather strap of the Première Ruban Couture Watch, whereas different tools are used as elegant charms in the Première Charms Couture Watch. The BOY.FRIEND Couture Watch takes on a fashionable approach and features CHANEL’s iconic tweed jacket on its dial, and the Code Coco Couture Watch is rendered in exquisite black and gold, with a leather strap printed with motifs of a thimble, spool of thread and scissors. Lastly, the House also presents several J12 pieces, including the J12 Couture presented in two diameter sizes—33MM in white ceramic, and 38MM in black ceramic—as well as the J12 Couture Workshop Automaton Caliber 6 Watch.
Caliber 6 equips the J12 Couture Workshop Automaton Caliber 6 Watch with a 72-hour power reserve
Behind the Scenes
One of the pieces presented by the CHANEL Watchmaking Creation Studio is the J12 Couture Workshop Automaton Caliber 6 Watch. The very name suggests what haute horology enthusiasts can expect to see on the inspired timepiece. On the dial of this haute horology masterpiece is a rendering of Gabrielle Chanel, elegantly dressed in a black and white CHANEL suit sporting a matching hat and shoes to boot. She is holding scissors in one hand, and beside her, her trusty couture dummy is draped with a piece of fabric. This fascinating scene shows her working in her couture atelier at rue Cambon and serves as the precious backdrop of the watch. To add a bit more flair to the already attractive model, the steel fixed bezel with black coating is stunningly set with 48 baguette-cut diamonds (~3.19 carats). In line with this, the non screw-down crown in steel with black coating is similarly adorned with a single brilliant-cut diamond (~0.15 carat).
The watch features a bezel set with 48 baguette-cut diamonds
Especially crafted of matt black highly resistant ceramic, the sultry timepiece has polished bevels, which is mirrored in the matt black highly resistant ceramic bracelet with polished bevels and steel triple-folding buckle that accompanies it. Available in a limited edition of 100 pieces, it has an 18-carat white gold and sapphire crystal case back with an engraving of “LIMITED TO 100,” a delightful aspect that pertains to its absolute exclusivity. Water-resistant to 50 metres, the 38 mm watch is equipped with Caliber 6, the new manual-winding mechanical movement with automaton function designed and assembled by the CHANEL Manufacture in Switzerland. A technical tour de force, the mechanism is composed of 355 different pieces and brings Mademoiselle’s silhouette to life at the touch of a button against a décor that is meticulously articulated on 5 levels. Caliber 6 supplies the tantalising model with a substantial 72-hour power reserve.
The J12 Couture Workshop Automaton Caliber 6 Watch dial features a figurine of Mademoiselle Chanel, her scissors and her couture dummy
A true delight for fashionistas and watch connoisseurs alike, the J12 Couture Workshop Automaton Caliber 6 Watch showcases the perfect balance between design and watchmaking savoir-faire, as expressed through the excellence of materials used and the superiority of its details. A fine interpretation of the Maison’s expertise in the field of horology, as well as its unparalleled history in haute couture, the timepiece is the ideal symbol for what CHANEL ultimately stands for: exquisite craftsmanship and unequalled sophistication.
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