With her love of all things astrological, Mademoiselle Chanel often incorporated stars, comets and the proud Leo lion – her star sign – into her jewels. To honour her affinity with all things astral, this autumn Chanel has reinterpreted these classic motifs in a typically chic way with the launch of a new collection of J12 watches presented with moonphase complications.
The new moonphase models come a decade after the release of the first J12. Designed by the brand’s late artistic director, Jacques Helleu, the watch was originally launched as a small collection of timepieces in high-tech black and white ceramic, and Chanel has stayed true to its monochrome roots with the new J12 Moonphase.
The phases of the moon aren’t visible through an aperture on the dial as they are on most moon-phase watches. Instead, a serpentine hand in polished steel points to the current phase of the moon on a deep-blue aventurine disc at 6 o’clock, surrounded by tiny stars. A central hand, tipped with a crescent moon, indicates the date.
Available in white and black ceramic, Chanel is also offering the J12 Moonphase with a diamond-set bezel and producing two further models in white gold and titanium ceramic, inlaid with 554 or 696 baguette-diamonds. Both are limited editions of 12 and 5 respectively.
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Chanel J12 Moonphase 38mm in high-tech black ceramic, black guilloché dial set with 63 brilliant cut diamonds and a bezel set with 54 brilliant cut diamonds (£15,100).
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Chanel J12 Moonphase in white high-tech ceramic with satin finished opaline dial with aventurine counter and a self-winding mechanical movement (£5,800).
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Chanel J12 Moonphase 38mm in white high-tech ceramic with guilloché dial set with 63 brilliant cut diamonds and a bezel set with 54 brilliant cut diamonds (£15,100).
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The limited-edition ChanelJ12 Moonphase watch, fully paved with 696 baguette-cut diamonds. Chanel has produced just five of this design (£720,000).
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The limited-edition Chanel J12 Moonphase in white gold and titanium, inlaid with 554 baguette diamonds. Chanel has produced just 12 of this design (£466,000).
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The Chanel J12 Moonphase indicates the phase of the moon on a sparkling midnight blue aventurine disc, which is encircled by brilliant cut diamonds.
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Chanel J12 Moonphase 38mm in high-tech black ceramic, black satin finished dial with aventurine counter and a self-winding mechanical movement (£5,800).
