In this Watches & Wonders, Chanel unveils its thematic Chanel Couture O’Clock collection, where Gabrielle Chanel’s world of Haute Couture converges with Haute Horlogerie. Built in 1918 on the foundations of Haute Couture, Gabrielle Chanel’s illustrious fashion house beats to a heartbeat of creativity, skill and craftsmanship. Time was its parallel. With the passing of time, there was beauty, and with the manifestation of beauty were the footprints of time. Chanel Couture O’Clock pays tribute to Gabrielle Chanel’s creative haven, the Rue Cambon atelier, and the multitude of tools that, stitch by stitch, imbues each garment with timeless elegance, sophistication and refinement.
Chanel Musical Clock Couture Workshop
Chanel makes a surprise unveiling this year as, for the first time, an automaton is introduced to its creations. As whimsical as they can be, the enchanting automaton universe recreates the dynamic atmosphere of the Rue Cambon atelier, combining the essence of a musical box and clock. Spaces and objects Gabrielle Chanel interacted with find themselves harmoniously combined in the unique creation. Centre to Gabrielle Chanel’s universe was Haute Couture, represented by five bespoke ceramic busts detailed with leather ribbons and gold and diamond jewellery.
Her personal abode was a grounding constant, with the clock plinth’s marquetry of 245 onyx pieces reminiscent of the iconic diamond quilted upholstered sofa and diamond embellished chandelier fixtures of Gabrielle Chanel’s apartment. An accompanying key affixed to a diamond-encrusted gold chain necklace brings the automaton to life: the five busts choreograph themselves to Al Bowlly’s My Woman, a melody that Gabrielle Chanel liked to hum.
Chanel J12 Couture Workshop Automaton Caliber 6 Watch
Chanel’s other automaton masterpiece finds itself in the fashion house’s iconic Chanel J12 case. While most of the watch’s existing blueprint remains intact, the Rue Cambon atelier finds itself as the eternal backdrop against which time passes. An animated smiley figurine of Gabrielle Chanel armed with her trusty scissors and the couture dummy comes to life with a touch of a case side pusher at eight o’clock.
While the timepiece excels in its graphical and aesthetical execution, the newly developed Chanel calibre 6 is a testament to the fashion house’s haute horlogerie prowess. The 355-component strong movement is housed within a 38mm diameter matte black ceramic case featuring a diamond bezel set with 48 baguette-cut diamonds approximating 3.19 carats. 100 pieces of the Chanel J12 Couture Workshop Automaton Caliber 6 Watch are produced, each representing a flawless synergy between design and horological mastery.
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