The Chanel J12 Diamond Tourbillon Calibre 5 - 2 minutes read
Every tourbillon clock is designed with the onlooker’s attention in mind. The whirling mechanism, which is French for “whirlwind” since it truly spins on itself, delivers a true show that is sensory, artistic, and constantly pleasing. However, there are individuals whose eyes are bigger than their stomachs. Chanel amps up the showiness and status for these visual hedonists by capping the complexity with a diamond.
The Chanel J12 Diamond Tourbillon Calibre 5 is a technical and creative tour de force that culminates 35 years of fine watchmaking by the Parisian couturier. It was designed in Paris by Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of Chanel’s Watchmaking Creation Studio, and developed and assembled by the Chanel Manufacture at La Chaux-de-Fonds. The watch incorporates Chanel’s sixth in-house movement, as well as the first to have a flying tourbillon.
The tourbillon comes alive with the sparkling dazzle of diamonds when set against the black circular bridge design that is hallmark of Chanel’s haute horlogerie movements. The “flying” configuration eliminates the upper bridge of the tourbillon cage, allowing a stunning solitaire diamond to take center stage. The facets on the spinning gemstone grab and fling light with wild abandon as the tourbillon swings through its mesmerizing cadence, flooding the area with illumination. It also functions as a nonpareil seconds counter and is framed with brilliant-cut diamonds.
The design of the J12 Diamond Tourbillon Calibre 5 is meticulous, as it is with every Chanel watch. Additional diamond droplets grace the hands and crown, since there can never be too much of the priceless stone. The elegant Calibre 5 with a power reserve of 48 hours is partially exposed on the front and entirely exhibited on the caseback, where the lion’s head symbol — a Chanel Manufacture movement trademark — can be found. The watch is clothed in black, the color of elegance exemplified by the Little Black Dress, in two varieties of high-tech ceramic: entirely matte to highlight the whirling showstopper, or glossy with baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel to maximize its brightness.
Movement: Manual winding in-house Calibre 5 with flying tourbillon; 42-hour power reserve
Case: 38mm in ceramic; water-ressitant to 50m
Strap: Ceramic bracelet
Price: On application