CHANEL Creates Its New J12 Bleu Watch With A Ceramic Hue
Luxferity, 06.04.2025
For the first time ever, CHANEL dresses its iconic watch in blue matte ceramic. Twenty-five years after the J12 revolutionized the watch industry - the black edition launched in 2000 and the white in 2003 - the J12 BLEU explores a new territory where the expert savoir-faire of the CHANEL Manufacture gives rise to a series of exceptional creations in an exclusive colour.
Deep and matte. Intense and unique. CHANEL creates the J12 Bleu, giving this emblematic watch a ceramic hue that is as exclusive as it is powerful. Although blue has always been part of the House’s palette, present in fashion, beauty and even of the jewellery boxes of the 1932 “Bijoux de Diamants” collection, it is interpreted today in a new shade exclusively made for watchmaking.
“In the course of 25 years, CHANEL has elevated ceramic to the level of a precious material” says Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the CHANEL Watchmaking Creation Studio. “The art of ceramic is undeniably CHANEL watchmaking and our outstanding savoir-faire: it is an inspiring material that, thanks to the genius of our engineers, offers a vast creative playing field”.
It took five years of research for the CHANEL Watch Manufacture to develop the J12 BLEU’s exclusive hue, demonstrating the absolute mastery of the production techniques of this sophisticated material that is scratchproof, highly resistant and durable.
n-42 Cobalt Blue Edition On Hybrid Strap
“I dreamt of giving a colour to black, of illuminating it with blue. The final choice of this particular blue was like an epiphany” continues Arnaud Chastaingt. “I wanted a blue that has a rigorous elegance, a blue that is nearly black or a black that is nearly blue”.
The J12 BLEU bears witness to the excellence of the CHANEL Watch Manufacture craftsmanship, perfectly mastering the development and production process of this singular blue ceramic.
A blue that reveals its multiple facets with the play of light, adorns nine new creations combining radiance and discretion, excellence and precision. A collection of nine watches, some of which set with bright blue precious sapphires, is casting the spotlight on to the J12 BLEU…
- J12 BLEU Caliber 12.1 38 MM
Limited edition
When the bright blue of the indicator’s baguette- cut sapphires meets the matte blue ceramic imagined by the CHANEL Watchmaking Creation Studio, an effortless elegant J12 BLEU appears. Blue in its purest form.
Equipped with the Caliber 12.1 for the 38 MM and the Caliber 12.2 for the 33 MM, these black-coated movements are made in the Swiss Kenissi Manufacture, co-owned by CHANEL.
n-42 Cobalt Blue Edition On Block Bracelet
- J12 BLEU Caliber 12.2 33 MM
Limited edition
When the bright blue of the indicator’s baguette- cut sapphires meets the matte blue ceramic imagined by the CHANEL Watchmaking Creation Studio, an effortless elegant J12 BLEU appears. Blue in its purest form.
Equipped with the Caliber 12.1 for the 38 MM and the Caliber 12.2 for the 33 MM, these black-coated movements are made in the Swiss Kenissi Manufacture, co-owned by CHANEL.
Glacier Blue
- J12 BLEU DIAMOND TOURBILLON
Limited to 55 pieces
The essence of CHANEL Haute Horlogerie, this J12 BLEU features a flying tourbillon whose hypnotic rotations are magnified by a 65-facet solitaire diamond set in the center of its cage. Gabrielle Chanel’s favorite stone lights up the openwork blue dial while enhancing the natural sparkle of the 34 baguette-cut sapphires set on the bezel of this selfwinding mechanical watch.
This J12 BLEU ceramic is endowed with a special finishing touch – the sides of the case and bracelet have been hand-polished for 8 hours – and beats to the rhythm of the Caliber 5, the result of three years of development at the Manufacture. Comprising 172 parts, this diamond- set flying tourbillon movement is a signature of the CHANEL aesthetic and watchmaking expertise.
n-42 Cobalt Blue Edition On Block Bracelet
- J12 BLEU X-RAY
Limited and numbered to 12 pieces
A tribute to transparency, the J12 BLEU X-RAY conjures a new shade of blue for this collection, inspired by the colours of the sea and the sky on a clear day. Over 1600 hours of work were required to sculpt the case and bracelet of this model from a single block of synthetic sapphire. Crafted in white gold, the bezel and links are set with 196 bright blue baguette-cut natural sapphires. For the ultimate detail, the Creation Studio ties white gold with black and creates an elegant contrast to this symphony of blues.
At the heart of the Caliber 3.1, the choice of the colourless sapphire for the plate and the two bridges highlights the beauty of this J12 BLEU X- RAY whose gears seem to float in the air. This impression is accentuated by a floating bridge in a colorless sapphire, adorned with 12 baguette-cut bright blue natural sapphires indicators.
Sashiko Azure S
- J12 BLEU 42 MM SAPPHIRES
Limited edition of 12 pieces
Playing with extremes, the CHANEL Watchmaking Creation Studio has imagined this watchmaking duo that presents two J12 watches, one with a 42 MM case and the other with a 28 MM case.
This exceptional Mini & Maxi pair is adorned with blue sapphires that illuminate the bezel, dial and bracelet. An infinite source of brilliance, the bright blue of the natural stones contrasts with CHANEL’s matte blue ceramic. More than 110 hours of gem- setting within the CHANEL Manufacture were required to embellish these two J12 cases, with 170 baguette-cut sapphires for the 42 MM and 196 baguette-cut sapphires for the 28 MM. The blackened steel bezels and crowns enhance the depth of the blue of the ceramic by highlighting these subtle nuances.
The J12 BLEU 42 MM SAPPHIRES is equipped with the COSC* chronometer- certified self- winding Caliber 12.1 Manufacture movement, dipped in a black finish, specific to Haute Horlogerie pieces.
* Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute
f-43 Bicompax Liberty Blue On Block Bracelet
- J12 BLEU 28 MM SAPPHIRES
Limited edition of 12 pieces
Playing with extremes, the CHANEL Watch Creation Studio has imagined this watchmaking duo that presents two J12 watches, one with a 42 MM case and the other with a 28 MM case.
This exceptional Mini & Maxi pair is adorned with blue sapphires that illuminate the bezel, dial and bracelet. An infinite source of brilliance, the bright blue of the natural stones contrasts with CHANEL’s matte blue ceramic. More than 110 hours of gem- setting within the CHANEL Manufacture were required to embellish these two J12 cases, with 170 baguette-cut sapphires for the 42 MM and 196 baguette-cut sapphires for the 28 MM. The blackened steel bezels and crowns enhance the depth of the blue of the ceramic by highlighting these subtle nuances.
Passage De Drake Glacier Blue S
- J12 BLEU 38 MM SAPPHIRES
Limited to 100 pieces
The bright blue of the 58 natural baguette- cut sapphires, set on the bezel and indicators of the J12 BLEU 38 MM SAPPHIRES, matches the deep blue of the ceramic in a striking demonstration of the House’s expertise in gem-pairing and setting. It is equipped with the COSC* chronometer-certified self-winding Caliber 12.1 Manufacture movement, dressed in a black finish specific to Haute Horlogerie pieces.
f-39 Liberty Blue On Block Bracelet
