The J12 isn’t just a Chanel icon, it’s one of the coolest women’s watches around, enough to make me try it on more than once. However, as the watch approaches its 20th anniversary (yes, it’s really that long), the fashion house has released a brand new interpretation of the modern icon: the J12 X-Ray.
We’re used to seeing white on the J12, but this takes achromatic colors to new heights—and lives up to its name, as one glance will tell you. The case is made entirely of sapphire, the second-hardest material on earth, and is often used for watch crystals, exhibition casebacks, and more.
Even so, Chanel didn’t stop there. The plate, chronograph bridge, and gear bridge are also made of sapphire, going beyond skeletonization and into ghostly territory. Within these invisible walls is Chanel’s in-house Caliber 3.1, a skeletonized movement with a 55-hour power reserve. It’s an incredibly complex grid of gears that took a full week to complete.
Having a sapphire dial is almost a given at this point, though, so joined by its slightly harder sibling in the form of baguette-cut diamond indicators that the stone seems to float. The bezel is also set with diamonds, the crown is set with a solitaire, and all other metal outside the movement is in white gold for sheer brilliance.
Oh, and the strap… its links are cut from sapphire crystal. It’s probably a world first, and it’s no surprise who would be crazy enough to try it?
The result is a rare gem even among already rare sapphire-cased watches (there used to be a handful), and a testament to the J12 as an iconic design. Limited to just 12 pieces, it’ll be a showstopper when we see it in sapphire at Baselworld 2020.
Price and specifications:
Model name: Chanel J12 X-Ray
Ref: H6249
Case/dial: 38mm diameter x 10.7mm thickness, sapphire, white gold
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Calibre 3.1, manual winding
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 50 hours
Functions: Hours and minutes
Price: US$626,000 (or £522,775), limited to 12 pieces
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