You’ve most definitely seen it in black, white, and—if you’ve been lucky—adorned in gold, often set with dazzling gemstones. Chanel’s J12 has been a study in contrasts for 25 years: timeless yet modern, sporty yet luxurious, and always effortlessly androgynous. A venerable icon alongside the 2.55 handbag and the tweed jacket, it has evolved from diminutive tickers to models featuring tourbillon escapements.
The J12’s allure lies in Chanel’s mastery of ceramic, a material as smooth as silk but seven times stronger than steel. Superheated to over 1,300 deg C, ceramic powder takes on a highly resistant form that is then polished with diamond powder. Comfortable, lightweight, and virtually impervious to scratches, it demonstrates the house’s technical sophistication.
On her: J12 Bleu Calibre 12.1, 33mm, in highly resistant ceramic and steel with diamonds.
Coco Crush necklace in white gold All from ChanelPhotography Stefan Khoo
Now, Chanel introduces its J12 watch in blue for the first time. It is not just any blue, but an exquisite shade developed over five years by its watchmaking department. The J12 Bleu is deep and matte, yet it shifts in the light with an almost inky elegance, thanks to both its ceramic case construction and the philosophy that guided its development.
“I wanted a blue that has a rigorous elegance, a blue that is nearly black or a black that is nearly blue,” explains Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the Chanel Watchmaking Creation Studio.
The J12 Bleu debuts in nine distinct models, representing a bold new chapter for a timepiece that has continuously redefined the luxury sports watch. Among them, four are created with matte blue ceramic cases and black-coated steel frames for everyday elegance. They are paired with fixed steel bezels set with matte blue ceramic rings, each adorned with a baguette-cut pattern.
J12 Bleu Calibre 12.1, 38mm, in highly resistant ceramic and steel with blue sapphires
On her:
J12 Bleu Calibre 12.1, 33mm, in highly resistant ceramic and steel with diamonds
Ecru wool dress
All from ChanelPhotography Stefan Khoo
“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.”
Arnaud Chastaingt
In addition, the watches depict time differently. One features black varnished Arabic numerals, while two others— available in 33mm and 38mm—replace traditional hour markers with baguette-cut blue sapphires. The fourth is much more luminous, tracing the passage of time with brilliant-cut diamonds.
Beneath their striking exteriors, these watches are driven by black-coated movements from the Swiss Kenissi Manufacture, co-owned by Chanel. The 38mm is fitted with the calibre 12.1, a COSC-certified automatic movement running at 4Hz with a power reserve of 70 hours. The 33mm models feature the calibre 12.2, a miniaturised version for smaller cases that maintains the same 4Hz frequency but offers a slightly reduced 50-hour power reserve.
Creative direction Chia Wei Choong
Photography Stefan Khoo
Video director and editor Belle Chew
D.O.P Hoya
Hair Edward Chong, using Oribe
Makeup Clarence Lee, using Chanel Beauty
Photography assistant Alif
Models Juliette & Hibiki / Mannequin
Carpets Jaipur Rugs
