Chanel gives its J12 ceramic watch a limited-edition midnight-blue makeover in celebration of the silhouette’s 25th anniversary.
The J12 was first introduced in 2000 and has become a symbol of affluence due to its signature ceramic case and bracelet construction. The line is usually only available in white or black but the anniversary celebration calls for the deep, rich blue that was developed by Chanel over the course of nine new references. The watch also arrives in haute horlogerie variations that incorporate blue sapphires as well as a diamond-set tourbillon. Another ultra-limited version is transparent and features blue sapphires throughout. Frédéric Grangié, president of Chanel Watches and Fine Jewelry said, “It was evident from the start that we could make other colors. And we are. But the one [we] bring to the market had to remain. It has to stay. So, J12 started black. Three years later, white. For its 25-year anniversary, it’s blue.”
Grangié also added, about the different J12 models receiving the blue treatment, “The J12 Bleu looks and feels different from the black and the white versions, the original watches. It is quite a departure, thanks to its finishing, which is matte and slightly satin. I’m sure that the existing clientele for J12 will enjoy this one, but I think it will also open up the market to a new, different clientele.” When it first arrived on the scene, the J12 was born out of a personal project. Jacques Helleu, the then artistic director for Chanel’s fragrances, beauty, watches, and jewelry, found inspiration from the aerodynamic lines of J-Class yachts in 2000 which informed the style of the J12 watch. Grangié said on its legacy, “Twenty-five years later, the watch world is taking notice. The J12 evolves, but with the same model and reference design for 25 years, it starts getting serious.”
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