SURE WINNERS

An investment property consultant on the value – monetary and personal – of timepieces.

J12 X-RAY AND J12 PARADOXE

This year marks two decades of the J12, an automatic timepiece Chanel introduced in 2000. Featuring a case and bracelet made from high-tech ceramic, it sparked the trend for using ceramics in highend watches. Last month, the French luxury house, which has watchmaking facilities in Switzerland, unveiled three very special editions to celebrate the J12’s 20th anniversary.

The ( literally) clear blockbuster is the J12 X-Ray, a 38mm hand-wound stunner that takes the full sapphire watch – a growing trend – to new heights. Sapphire crystal is typically used for the glass of fine watches, and is a challenge to machine because of its brittleness. While many “simply” feature cases made of sapphire crystal, the J12 X-Ray has a sapphire crystal case, dial, movements parts and – an industry first – bracelet. Topping off all this transparency in truly luxurious fashion, the bezel is covered with baguette diamonds weighing a total of 5.46 carats.

For those who can’t decide if they prefer black or white ceramic, the J12 Paradoxe does away with the need to decide. Two-thirds white and one-third black, the case of the 38mm automatic watch comprises two separate parts held in place by a metal frame. The bezel and dial are coloured using different techniques. Prefer a little more shine to your contrasts? The J12 Paradoxe Diamonds mixes black ceramic with baguette diamonds (40 on the case,

26 on the bezel) on a 38mm automatic timepiece, available in a limited edition of 20.