Chanel J12 Caliber 12.1 H5697 Black Ceramic
Launched in 1999 as the brainchild of Jacques Hélleu, Chanel's then-chief designer, the J12 was launched as a practical sports watch that carried Chanel’s iconic and timeless design language in a way that broke from the conventional understanding of what type of watches fashion brands would create at the time. Boasting a completely ceramic construction, the J12’s black case and bracelet were a big part of the watch’s design language thanks to their pairing with a monochromatic display and bezel. One of the earliest “fashion watches” to break from the understanding that fashion brands only create cheaply made watches to sell at a large mark up, the J12 ref. H5697 that we have here is powered by a chronometer-certified movement, the cal. 12.1 – which is on display behind an exhibition caseback that proves that it is by no means just a cheap watch, but instead a historically-established horologically-significant offering from one of fashion’s most iconic houses.
Brand : Chanel
Model : J12
Reference : H5697
Year : Circa 2020
Material : Black ceramic
Dial Color : Black
Dimensions : 38mm
Movement : Automatic cal. 12.1
Bracelet : Black ceramic bracelet
Condition : Near-Mint
Included : Watch, inner box and open chronometer card
THE DIAL Boasting a black sector dial with applied Arabic numerals and a discrete date window at 4:30, the J12's monochromatic display successfully feeds into the idea that less is sometimes more.
THE CONSTRUCTION While ceramic might be more commonplace now, the J12's use of ceramic for its case and bracelet in the 1990s spoke to Chanel's impressive ability to foresee future trends.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
