Baselworld 2014: Spotlight on Chanel

Chanel’s most important introduction this year is a fashion-focused homage to the brand’s couture roots, with a new version of the Premiére. The watch has an intertwined leather and steel link bracelet that is reminiscent of Chanel’s iconic handbag straps. It was featured on the runway of Chanel’s Fall/Winter Ready-to-wear shows this spring. It has a black lacquered dial and a quartz movement. There is also a gold version, without the leather element in the bracelet.

The Premiére was actually the first watch Chanel created exclusively for women, back in 1987, with a case inspired by the octagonal shape of the Chanel No. 5 bottlestopper. In 2012, the Premiére Camelia was introduced, transforming the model into a showcase for high watchmaking , with a flying tourbillon caliber made by Renaud et Papi. The new tourbillon model for this year is set with 42 baguette diamonds on the bezel, 47 baguette cut pink sapphires on the case side, baguette cut pink sapphires on the crown, and round diamonds on both the hands and tourbillon cage.  The dial is high-tech ceramic.

The brand’s newest iconic timepiece, the J12, was introduced in a stunning all-white version with light blue numerals and hand tips, which is sure to be a hit for summer. There is also a new “beige gold” version, with a special alloy of gold that matches a color used throughout the brand’s other collections, including a beige face powder and the colors in its iconic tweed jackets. The J12 was also introduced in several jewelry versions, including a steel and diamonds version with a ceramic bracelet, as well as a high jewelry tourbillon.

In fact, high jewelry watches were the main item on the menu at the Chanel boutique this year in Basel, with several spectacular new pieces on display, many with bows and feathers, which represent the codes of Chanel couture.