Full Transparency
Chanel’s new J12 watches come with a twist, including the world’s first ever sapphire bracelet
Chanel has launched its most eye-popping J12 watches to date. Named after a class of racing yachts, the collection has been around since 2000 and in the last two decades has spearheaded watchmaking’s ceramic boom. First up: the J12 Paradoxe, which features a striking two-tone case that’s twothirds white and one-third black.
Fused together by G&F Chatelain, a Swiss case maker that’s been owned by Chanel since 1993, two pieces of ceramic are anchored to an inner frame by screws that are visible through the watch’s case back.
Limited to 20 pieces, the J12 Paradoxe also comes in another version which has a white ceramic side fully set with baguette-cut diamonds. Sleek and sophisticated, the J12 Paradoxe Diamond’s jewel-drenched third beautifully contrasts with the watch’s polished black ceramic and lacquered dial.
The Paradoxe Diamond’s inner case is made using white gold, while diamonds are additionally set into the lugs, crown guards, bezel flange and dial. Both versions come with a case back that measures 38mm and both house the automatic Calibre 12.1, which is produced by Kenissi, a movement maker Chanel shares with Tudor.
Although that’s impressive, it’s Chanel’s third release that’s inarguably the showstopper. Without doubt the most overthe-top J12 ever unveiled, J12 X-ray gets its name from its super-cool transparent sapphire case, bracelet and dial, which reveals the inner-workings of the brand new Calibre 3.1— complete with jewels, mainspring, escape wheel and numerous other fancy gadgets and gears.
Machined from a single block of sapphire crystal, the 38mm case also features a white gold bezel that’s set with baguette-cut diamonds—46 of them, to be exact. Limited to just 12 pieces, the J12 X-ray is certainly a daring way to celebrate the watch line’s 20th anniversary. Made up of individual sapphire links that are fastened together using white gold pins and screws, the bracelet is an industry first and a winning blend of fine watchmaking and fashion. Who can say no to that?