on watch
The French maison has proved its horological prowess time and time again, and with the new Chanel Code Coco, it’s heading back to its fashion roots
With the new Chanel Code Coco, the French maison is heading back to its fashion roots
TO CALL CHANEL one of the world's largest fashion powerhouses is no understatement. The sartorial influence of Gabrielle Chanel, boosted by Karl Lagerfeld's modern vision, has made the Parisian label one of the planet's most recognisable. And forget of-the-moment fashion – if you're at all clothes- conscious, you'll be able to instantly identify the quilted Chanel Boy bags, the tweed jackets with contrasted piping and the shape of the No. 5 perfume bottle.
But Chanel's indomitable reach doesn't stop at fashion. Its foray into the world of horology is relatively recent, but the brand's watch game has been strong from the start. The debut of the Boy.Friend a few years back was an overall success. In 2016, the launch of the fi rst Chanel men's watch, the Monsieur, won rave reviews from even the most sceptical critics due to the credibility of its innovative in-house movement, developed with Romain Gauthier. And of course, the J12 has always been a firm favourite amongst the fashion set.
Code Coco was launched in 2017 during Paris Fashion Week and connects Chanel squarely to its fashion roots. The timepiece features a novel design and is inspired by the highly covetable 2.55 purse. Wearing the Code Coco, you're simultaneously wearing a watch, a piece of jewellery and a fashion statement on your wrist.
The name comes from the fact that the storied
French maison is full of codes, a few of which are clearly apparent on the wristwatch. For one, the Mademoiselle clasp on the watch is originally a signature on the 2.55 handbag; the opening buckle lays on top of the rectangular black dial and is fastened with a twist of the metal bar that dissects the dial into two halves.
The top half of the dial is decorated with a single diamond in tribute to Gabrielle Chanel's love for the sparkling gemstone (she once said: “If I have chosen the diamond, it is because it represents, in its density, the greatest value in the smallest volume”), while the lower half indicates the time. A third code is found in the quilted pattern on the bracelet. The chocolate motif, an emblem at Chanel since 1955, adds a graphic touch to the already cool-looking watch.
Last year's launch included a stainless-steel version with a single 0.5- carat diamond and a fancier version in stainless steel featuring a bezel set with 52 brilliant- cut diamonds. This year's release is bolder and even more striking. The Code Coco is now available in a steel and black ceramic case, with one version set with one princess- cut diamond on the dial and the other with a steel bezel set with an additional 52 brilliant- cut diamonds.
All versions run on a high-precision quartz movement and are water-resistant to 30 metres. If you know your Chanel, decode all these stylish messages on the Code Coco.