CHANEL

Founded by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel in Paris in 1910, the House of CHANEL became synonymous with elegant French fashion and luxury. The brand entered watchmaking in 1987 with the launch of the Première, a ladies' watch inspired by the octagonal shape of Place Vendôme and the stopper of the N°5 perfume bottle. Designed by Jacques Helleu, the Première established CHANEL's watchmaking identity. In 1993, CHANEL acquired G&F Châtelain, a watch manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, gaining in-house production capabilities. The year 2000 marked a watershed moment with the introduction of the J12, a revolutionary ceramic sports watch designed by Jacques Helleu. Named after America's Cup racing yachts, the J12 pioneered the use of high-tech ceramic in luxury watchmaking and became an icon transcending gender boundaries. CHANEL began producing its proprietary ceramic in 2004 and has since developed increasingly sophisticated movements. The brand holds stakes in prestigious independent watchmakers: Bell & Ross (since 1998), F.P. Journe (20% stake acquired in 2018), and MB&F (25% stake acquired in 2024). CHANEL also co-owns Kenissi, the movement manufacture affiliated with Rolex and Tudor, which supplies calibers for the J12 collection.