Women's Chanel Watches

Celebrated designer “Coco” Chanel was born in 1883 in Saumur, France. She was born in poverty but gradually worked her way up in the fashion business. With her exquisite design sense, her haute couture company founded in the early 1900s went on to create world-renowned cult objects such as the N°5 fragrance, the “little black dress” and the 2.55 bag.

The company introduced its first watch in 1987. Aptly named Première, it stayed true to its heritage with an octagonal case inspired by the contours of Place Vendôme and the form of the Chanel N°5 bottle stopper. The J12, launched in 2000, transformed ceramic into a precious substance and established the “couture” watch as a new classification.

In 2004, Chanel began combining its watchmaking skills with its fine jewelry expertise; the new J12 had baguette-cut diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies set on the bezels, with dials and bracelets in an infinite variety.

Quick Facts

• Gabrielle Chanel earned the nickname “Coco” while appearing as a cabaret singer
• A milestone in Chanel’s watchmaking history was the 2010 introduction of the J12 Rétrograde Mystérieuse, with a retrograde minute hand, 10-day power reserve, and a retractable vertical crown
• The Première Flying Tourbillon and Mademoiselle Privé appeared in 2012; in 2013 came the new Première watch, with slimmer, longer proportions and a chain bracelet