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Modern Classic

A short history of the evolution of Chanel's iconic J12 watch

Dylan Tan

Published Thu, Jul 9, 2020 · 09:50 PM

Watches

IN JUST THE BLINK of an eye, Chanel's J12 has turned 20. Over two decades, the iconic timepiece has had various facelifts - from redesigns to complications - but the watch has always stayed recognisable.

Introduced at the dawn of the new millennium, the J12 was the brainchild of Jacques Helleu, who was then Chanel's artistic director. From the get-go, the watch stood out among its peers and redefined feminine watchmaking by defying the industry's cookie-cutter and unimaginative knack of simply shrinking down men's pieces for their women's collection.

Designed from scratch, the diver was sporty yet dressy. The use of ceramic as a precious ma…