Baselworld 2013 preview…

As you may recall, last year Chanelmade its black J12 ceramic watch with a matte finish for the first time, in a few different variations from the J12 family.  It looks like for 2013 they will continue with the matte black theme, offering the Superleggera chronograph in the finish.   The Superleggera chronograph itself is not a new model from Chanel (here’s the silver dialed model currently available) but this is a new look, and a good one at that — it should do well with fashion conscious Chanel fans.

You can read more about this piece — as well as what is perhaps a more important piece that Chanel will introduce this year, the J12 White Phantom (it is the 10th anniversary of the now iconic white J12) — over at the very insightful Watches by SJX blog.

After a bit of time off, it’s time to get back to my previews of the one-of-a-kind watches that will be auctioned at the ONLY WATCH 2011 charity event.  Today let’s look at the Chanel J12 Marine watch for ONLY Watch 2011, featuring a 38mm sand-blasted ceramic case with rose gold accents.  This watch is not as inspiring as some of the other ONLY Watch 2011 pieces (See my other watch previews HERE), but of course it is a unique take on Chanel’s standard J12 Marine, a watch that I discussed in detail in a previous article.

Chanel J12 Marine Watch for ONLY Watch 2011

Unique Piece

38mm sand-blasted black ceramic case, pink gold crown, bezel and caseback, automatic mechanical movement (ETA), water resistant 300 meters, fitted on rubber strap

Dislike Chanel? Turn away now!

Perpetuelle readers got the first look at Chanel’s new “J12 Chromatic” watch back in March (see all 7 models) , so consider this a brief update now that new watches are hitting the market.   Chanel J12 Chromatic prices will start at $5,800 and go on up, depending on the model (diamond-adorned models are available).   For more info — and a rather cheesy Chanel marketing video — you can click through to check out the new Chanel J12 Chromatic microsite.  Personally I prefer the the Chanel J12 Marine watches which debuted last year (and the cool J12 Marine micro-site), in fact I was quite impressed upon by the the J12 Marines after trying them on.  The J12 Chromatic seems to be a bit too soft and sensual, though to be fair I have not yet seen it in person — who knows maybe it will strike a chord with my inner-fashionista (doubt it!).

Chanel J12 Chromatic Watch 41mm men’s (Ref H2934)

Price: $5,800

Details in hand…

It is officially the “Chanel J12 Chromatic” (this is a follow up to the “first look” I showed you 2 days ago).   The Chanel J12 Chromatic is made of a new proprietary ceramic titanium material that is of course highly scratch resistant with a hardness close to that of sapphire.  The J12 Chromatic features a spectrum of models — 38mm and 41mm case sizes each with an automatic mechanical movement, and a more petite 33mm case size with a quartz movement.   Water resistant to 200 meters.   I also have a nice closeup of the dial (below) in which you can see the fantastic design work — circular pattern on the outer dial, brushed pattern on the inner dial.  There are also diamond and diamond baguette encrusted models (set in an 18k white gold bezel).  You can see the full lineup, below:

close up of the Chanel J12 Chromatic dial:

Chanel J12 Chromatic

Ceramic Titanium

41 mm – Ref. H2934	38 mm – Ref. H2979	33 mm – Ref. H2978

Ceramic Titanium – Diamond Baguette

38 mm – Ref. H2913	33 mm – Ref. H2912

Ceramic Titanium – Diamond

38 mm – Ref. H2566	33 mm – Ref. H2565

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First Look…

***UPDATED!  Click here to view our full review of the Chanel J12 Chromatic Watches***

Chanel is set to unveil a new “ceramic titanium” model in its Chanel J12 collection, adding a sleek new look to the popular black and white ceramic models that have come to define the ceramic watch category.  I really like the Chanel J12 Marine collection that was introduced last year, and no doubt this new ceramic titanium watch could be an even bigger hit with consumers.  This watch is decidedly masculine — its “ceramic titanium” bracelet and case sets the monotone look and is complemented with a matching bezel and brushed-finish dial.  My source also reports that there will be female-sized 38mm and 33mm versions as well.  More details to come, as I get them, on our Official Baselworld 2011 Watch Feed…

Via Business Montres.

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Screw the watch…check out the building!

Chanel brings us this special J12 “101″ in celebration of one of the largest buildings in the world, Taipei 101.  Only 101 of the special black ceramic J12′s have been made, available exclusively in the Chanel shop in the Taipei 101 tower for approximately 3900 EUR ($5,000).   The watch is a standard Chanel J12 in every regard except the specially marked red “101″ on the bezel.  In other words not too exciting, but it does give us a chance to check out one of the coolest buildings in the world!

Setting this otherwise unremarkable watch aside for a moment, don’t you just love mega-tall buildings?!?  I know I do.  The feats of engineering and construction that go into building these structures are semi-miraculous, and of course Taipei 101 is no exception.   I recall watching a very cool show on Discover Channel about how this building was made and I remember being especially awed and inspired by the 660 ton turned mass damper stabilization system.

Discovery Channel Video on Taipei 101 and its “Damper” System

Taipei 101  In All Its Beauty and Splendor

Until the erection of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010, Taipei 101 held the title of “tallest building in the world.”  Fun reading over at Wikipedia:  List of Tallest Buildings and Structures in the World.

The new Chanel J12 Marine watches that were announced earlier this year are hitting the market.   While not a big “fashion brand” fan when it comes to watches, I think these new diver watches deserve some respect (or do they not?).  Chanel also launched a cool new interactive website to highlight the J12 Marine.  The website simulates an “underwater experience”  — yea, it probably cost a gazillion bucks to produce this website, but it’s kinda neat — check it out!

Here’s a video, then the pics, etc below:

The watches come in a variety of sizes (42mm and 38mm) and colors (blue, black and white).  All have ceramic bezels, unidirectional rotating bezels and are water resistant to 300 meters.  The strap is rubber with a “Chanel” engraved buckle.  The J12 Marine is priced in the $5,000 range if I’m not mistaken.  This is a lot, particularly given the movement — while probably a reliable Swiss-made one — is nothing special.  You are paying for the “Chanel” name.  Kinda like buying a diamond from Tiffany & Co., know what I’m saying?

Chanel J12 Marine Blue 42mm – Ref H2559

&

Chanel J12 Marine Blue 38mm – Ref H2561

Chanel J12 Marine Black 42mm – Ref H2558

Chanel J12 Marine White 38mm – Ref H2560

Retractable vertical crown…

BASELWORLD 2010 is coming soon.  You can see all the hot new pre-releases on Perpetuelle.com’s Official Baselworld 2010 Forum, and many many more when the event starts on March 18th.  Just click here!

Update 2/19: Pics emerge (below)

At SIHH we saw Cartier’s ID One Concept Watch (video here, pics here).  Now it is evident that Chanel has likewise been up to something “big” and the word on the new Chanel J12 Tourbillon Retrograde Mysterieuse Concept watch will be out at Baselworld 2010, if not sooner.  More to come…..for sure….stay tuned in.  Here’s the preview video:

A unique white Chanel J12 chronograph with pink sapphires for “Only Watch” 2009

While I’m not the biggest fan of “fashion” or “jewelery” brand watches, this one-of-a-kind piece by Chanel watch caught my eye – certainly I think it would look good on some nice lady’s wrist!  I do like the look of larger watches on women – but not too large – and I think this watch is sized about right at 41mm.  The bracelet is the J12 signature white ceramic, and the bezel is set with baguette-cut diamonds and pink sapphires.  Even the crown and chronograph pushers are set with pink sapphires – nice! While I know that this watch is not everyone’s “cup of tea”, I remind you that it is for a good cause and thus worth the mention (all proceeds from the Only Watch auction event will go to support medical research for Duschenne Muscular Dystrophy).

Case 18K white gold and high-tech white ceramic
36 baguette-cut sapphires
12 baguette-cut diamonds indicators
Cabochon crown in pink sapphires
41mm Diameter
Movement Self-winding mechanical chronograph movement, certified COSC (3 counters: 12 hours, 30 minutes, 50 seconds)
Bracelet Articulated white high-tech ceramic
Clasp Triple folding buckle in 18K white gold
The case of this watch is specially engraved for Only Watch.