Introduced in 2021, Chanel’s Calibre 3.1 is a technical feat that demonstrates the maison’s unique approach to watchmaking. The idea was to push the limits of Chanel’s watchmaking capabilities by further developing the concept of transparency and suspension so that the movement appears to float unencumbered within the case. Calibre 3.1 boasts a base plate, a timer bridge and a cogwheel bridge made of sapphire crystal — a material that is as beautiful as it is difficult to manufacture because of its rigidity and fragility. These three crucial components are not only tiny, but also extremely thin, measuring only 0.5mm to 1mm.

Though the seafaring Helleu was instinctively inspired by the yachting world, it took him seven long years to materialise his grand design. Chanel introduced the world's first watch entirely composed of high-tech ceramic, the functional, timeless J12, in 2000.

In the wake of the extraordinary J12 X-Ray, a timepiece that pushed the boundaries of transparency by incorporating an unprecedented raw sapphire crystal bracelet, Chanel introduces the J12 X-Ray Star. Drawing inspiration from the enchanting allure of celestial bodies, this timepiece embodies ethereal weightlessness, featuring a frosted sapphire exterior that sparkles with the brilliance of approximately 16 cts of diamonds. Upon the transparent sapphire dial, an artful arrangement of 12 baguette-cut diamonds creates a celestial impression, emanating from the central silvered ring etched with minute markers. These markers appear to unveil a mechanical cosmos of gears and cogs.