INSPIRED CHOICE
Chanel makes a creative statement with the Monsieur de Chanel, writes RUBIN KHOO
At the heart of the philosophy at Chanel is the desire to create. It is that which gives birth to the tools that enable this. Encapsulating this is Chanel’s Monsieur, a watch designed specifically for men. Its origins stem from a vision. There was no watch, movement or watchcase. Instead all three elements were created to enable this vision to come to life. At Baselworld 2018, the Monsieur de Chanel makes its third appearance this time with a one-of-a-kind pocket watch that comes equipped with the Calibre 2.2 as well as a limited edition clock.
Among them, the Monsieur de Chanel, presented in beige gold showcases an ivory opaline dial with retrograde minute counter, jumping hour window and small seconds counter with beige gold plated hands. The beige gold is complemented with a black alligator strap. The timepiece is powered by Chanel’s Calibre 1 which is a jumping-hour, manual-winding mechanical movement with two integrated complications. It has a three-day power reserve and water resistance to 30 metres. The case is 40mm diameter and 10.4mm thick.
But for those opting to make more of a statement are the two limited edition variations both of which feature a lion on the dial, an ode to Gabrielle Chanel who was born under the Leo zodiac.
The limited editions come in either 18K beige gold or 18K white gold with baguettecut diamonds, with black “Grand Feu” enamel dial with a 240°retrograde minutes counter and a jumping hour window. The lion miniature sculpture comes in 18K beige gold or 18K white gold with a black effect achieved through a fire oxidation process. The strap is black alligator with either 18K beige or white gold clasp. At the heart of the limited edition is the Calibre 1 which features a jumping-hour, manual-winding mechanical movement with two integrated complications with an instant jumping hour and 240°retrograde minute. Both versions are limited to 20 pieces each.
Garnering much attention is Monsieur de Chanel Chronosphere clock, made in collaboration with Swiss clock specialist L’Epée 1839. Limited to only five pieces, it takes inspiration, like everything else, from an objet d’art in Gabrielle’s apartment, which depicts a large rock crystal sphere supported on the backs of three bronze lions made by Goossens Paris.
The Chronosphere is powered by a movement designed by Chanel’s Watchmaking Creative Studio, but was developed and manufactured by L’Epée 1839. Time is displayed on two spherical rotating discs printed with the same numerical typography as the Monsieur de Chanel watch. Enclosed within a glass sphere supported by three hand-sculpted galvanised bronze lions, the movement oscillates at a steady 2.5Hz and runs on a 7-day power reserve.
Chanel also achieves a first with the Monsieur de Chanel pocket watch which features a unique version of the Calibre 2, the Calibre 2.2. The white gold case features 57 baguette-cut diamonds. While it is a pocket watch, the 18K gold chain can be detached enabling it to double up as a table clock. The lion takes precedence featured in white gold coated in black HyCeram.