The latest offering from Chanel is a back to basics version of the J12, called the J12 Calibre 3125. This new watch, elegant and simple, features a high horology basic movement from Audemars Piguet.
With all of the wonderful movements Audemars Piguet makes, why did Chanel choose a simple three hand with date to start its collaboration?
“We had the tourbillon, the other extreme, but we were also interested in having an elegant and simple piece,” Philippe Mougenot, President, watches and jewellery, Chanel, explains. “We believe there is a new demand for elegance and simplicity after years of excessive sizes and designs and highly complicated watches. There was a race for the biggest, the most extreme, and I think that will change.”
The new watch is a limited production model, mostly due to the availability of the movement (called the Chanel AP-3125). The watch will retail for 19,000 Euros and comes in a 42 mm black ceramic and yellow gold case (the same size case as the current J12 GMT).
The future will certainly mean more collaborations with Audemars Piguet, but both com-panies are being tight-lipped about the substance of these other watches. The J12 Calibre 3125 is the first of more to come.


Source: Europa Star February-March 2008 Magazine Issue