Some members of the watch group might not take Chanel watches significantly, however the maison is totally placing some critical effort into making sophisticated items. The Chanel J12 Automaton Caliber 6 debuted at Watches & Wonders 2024, that includes a humorous but mechanically skillful animation of founder Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel at work. The watch is a part of the Chanel Couture O’Clock capsule assortment that pays tribute to “Coco” and her famed couture workshop on rue Cambon.
Launched in 1999, the J12 was a pioneer in ceramic watches; whereas it might not have been the very first one, it was definitely the mannequin that popularized the fabric in watchmaking. 25 years and dozens and dozens of iterations later, the J12 stays Chanel’s flagship ceramic watch assortment, all the time in black, white, or a mixture of each. The high-strength black ceramic case of the Chanel J12 Automaton Caliber 6 is obtainable in an unusual matte end and measures 38mm in diameter and 13.65mm thick, together with the sapphire glass field crystal. The caseband now features a light chamfer, a primary for J12 watches. The black-treated metal bezel is dwelling to 48 baguette-cut sq. diamonds whereas the black ADLC crown is about with one brilliant-cut diamond. The case is waterproof to 50 meters and is paired with an identical black ceramic bracelet with, just like the caseband, hyperlinks which might be additionally barely chamfered. Fitted to the bracelet is a triple-folding clasp.
The dial is brimming with the style home’s recognizable motifs and aesthetic codes. There are touches of tweed, camellia blooms, and quilted surfaces, and Coco is on the heart sporting her most well-known designs together with a Chanel swimsuit, cap toe slingbacks, and a bow-decorated hat. The scene is about within the Mademoiselle Privé high fashion workshop with the founder engaged on a partially-made outfit hanging on a CHANEL-branded model. A push of the button protruding from the case at 8 o’clock prompts the automaton, and Miss Gabrielle involves life along with her scissors-clad arm transferring up and down whereas her different hand rests on her hip swaying facet to facet. The adjoining model strikes up and down too. On the heart of the dial is brass hour and minute fingers, completed with a black galvanic remedy.
This mini mechanical present, conceived by Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of Chanel’s Watchmaking Creation Studio, is all due to Caliber 6, the primary Automaton motion designed and assembled by the Chanel Watch Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The sapphire crystal show caseback reveals the circle-themed skeletonized structure of the motion, primarily based on Caliber 1 launched in 2016. The signature round bridges, wheels, gears, and jewels are a part of Caliber 6’s 355 parts — about double the variety of components in different Chanel actions and fairly the feat contemplating the compact 38mm diameter of the case that homes them. The manual-winding motion operates at 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz) and provides the watch with about 72 hours of energy reserve. A theatrical motion deserves a becoming stage — that is Chanel, in any case. As such, encircling the sapphire crystal window on the caseback is an 18k white gold body, engraved with all of the customary inscriptions.
I discover the brand new Chanel J12 Automaton Caliber 6 to be charming, cheeky, and above all else, artistic. Timepieces like this make me concurrently smile with delight and nod in admiration. Restricted to solely 100 examples, pricing for the Chanel J12 Automaton Caliber 6 was not obtainable on the time of publishing. For extra info, please go to the Chanel web site.
