Chanel presented its first ever collection of watches in 1987. In the almost 30 years since the Haute Couture House began their journey with watchmaking, a precious approach to time has remained at the centre of Chanel's watchmaking process. Renewing the codes of time measurement time and time again through techniques that combines watchmaking and jewellery expertise through the lens of the legacy House.

The first ever model that Chanel released, was the PREMIÈRE watch, staying true to the Maison's identity and Gabrielle Chanel's life's work with its octagonal shape, which was reportedly inspired by Place Vendôme and the N°5 perfume cabochon stopper. 30 years on, and especially at this years Watches & Wonders, the magic of Chanel's watches is as powerful as ever.

With a range of releases across classic timepieces and jewellery watches, these are all of the releases that Chanel's Horlogerie arm is celebrating in 2023 at Watches and Wonders.

Chanel Interstellar Capsule Collection

Inspired by the worlds of science fiction, space and time travel, Chanel's Watchmaking Creation Studio has created the Chanel Interstellar capsule collection for 2023. The designs feel futuristic in their construction, with pixelated motifs, star charms, a circuit board design, and phosphorescent effects. Within the collection, Chanel presents new interpretations of the J12, PREMIÈRE, BOY FRIEND and CODE COCO watches. These exclusive creations include limited editions of Haute Horlogerie pieces.

J12

The J12 is reimagined in many new styles and looks, bringing together the brand's signature J12 appeal with updated designs, including the X-Ray Star, Diamond Tourbillon, , star light, Eclipse Box, Hyper Cybernetic, Cybernetic, Spatiotemporal, Night Star 38mm and 33mm, Mademoiselle J12 Cosmic, Interstellar, and Cosmic.

PREMIÈRE

Watches & Wonders 2023" width="2800" height="1865" />The Chanel PREMIÈRE watch is reimagined within the interstellar theme. The model's classic octagonal dial is encased in a 18k White Gold case or a steel case set with 52 brilliant-cut diamonds. The Hype Star model arrived with a 18K white gold bracelet set with 162 diamonds, a 18K white gold comet charm set with 6 brilliant-cut diamonds and a High precision quartz movement. The Lucky Star model comes with a steel caseback with a limited edition mention, aventurine effect black glittery lacquered dial, a black rubber strap with velvet touch and steel ardillon buckle, and high precision quartz movement.

PREMIÈRE Camelia X-Ray

The Première Squelette Camélia watch celebrates one of the most poetic symbols of the House of Chanel: the camellia. The Calibre 2 Haute Horlogerie movement, designed and assembled by the Chanel Manufacture, enhances this three-dimensional floral geometry and is housed for the first time in a precious sapphire setting.

PREMIÈRE X-Ray

This watch plays on transparency and femininity, with alternate links of sapphire crystal and white gold set with diamonds.

 

PREMIÈRE Robot

A 3D robot in yellow gold, ceramic, blackened titanium, onyx and diamonds. A strap in rubber with a velvet touch.

 

Boyfriend Cyberdata

The Boyfriend Cyberdata has a slightly wider octagonal dial and case than the Premiere, and features a printed circuit board set with diamonds on the dial. The strap is a bracelet in black quilted patent leather with a silver-colored lining.

 

Code Coco Cybergold

The Code Coco is a fashionable model that features some of the key ready-to-wear codes of the House. A bracelet in gold quilted leather boldly spelling out the 6 letters of the CHANEL logo. Two black-lacquered dials, one set with a diamond, the other, a tiny square with gold hands and a Mademoiselle turnlock in steel with black coating to secure the watch.

 

Monsieur Tourbillon Meteorite

 

The Monsieur is updated with a black ceramic case framing and highlighting the two unique elements of this watch. The lion, emblem of the House of Chanel, sits within the cage of the tourbillon and turns with the rhythm of the seconds. The dial, created from a fragment of meteorite, makes each piece unique. For the first time, the Monsieur watch houses a flying tourbillon movement, the Calibre 5.1, designed and assembled by the Chanel Manufacture.

 

Mademoiselle Privé Pique-Aiguilles

The story goes that Gabrielle Chanel always kept two tools to hand in her rue Cambon ateliers: a pair of scissors, secured around her neck with a ribbon, and a pincushion on her wrist. The latter, was the inspiration for Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the Chanel Watchmaking Creation Studio's latest creation,  the Mademoiselle Privé Pique-Aiguilles watch.

"I like the image of this functional piece of jewelry that adorns the wrists of seamstresses." He says in a press release. "I am fascinated by the design of objects whose architecture is the product of a practical need. In terms of style, the pincushion commands authority on the wrist, with presence and impact. Its outsize format does not detract from its comfort in any way, and it adapts to all wrists. I love the random design of needles on the surface of the cushion. Organized or disorganized, the pinheads pricked into the fabric dome create a decorative effect that evolves with the progress of the seamstress's work. I have adopted the spirit of this tool to create a watch. While its architecture has the boldness of simplicity, its oversized dial flirts with excess and offers an incredible space for expression. I dreamed of this creation as a blank canvas for the most audacious Métiers d’art. I have imagined five tableaux for this collection: a lacework of camellias, a composition of iconic bags, jewels strewn on black tweed, a diamond embroidery, and a jacket at the pattern stage."

The model is available with five different dials, all paying homage to Chastaingt's sentiment of the pincushion in unique ways. Each is set in an 18K yellow gold set with 211 brilliant-cut diamonds and titanium with black coating case, and a 18K yellow gold caseback. All models have a high-precision quartz movement.

 

Mademoiselle Privé Lion

As part of the Métiers d’Art collection and aiming to transport you into the private world of Gabrielle Chanel, is a jewel box revealing the symbols that Mademoiselle cherished and the objects that she loved to surround herself with. For 2023, Chanel presents four new pieces in the Mademoiselle Privé collection, faithful as ever to these exceptional Métiers d’Art, and on this occasion honoring Gabrielle Chanel’s star sign, Leo. Within the collection, is a cuff, adorned with a sculpted lion in 18K gold set with 252 brilliant-cut diamonds at the centre, and a button that conceals the watch dial, a black lacquer dial which is set with 32 brilliant-cut diamonds; there is a smaller model, for those who prefer less sparkle, with the same mechanisms; there is also a model with the same concealed lion watch face and a satin-effect calfskin strap, and a necklace of the same design featuring 18K yellow gold necklace set with black facetted onyx, 18K yellow gold spheres and 51 brilliant-cut diamonds.