Première Edition Originale

Chanel made its watchmaking debut in 1987 with a model created by then artistic director Jacques Helleu (who would go on to imagine the J12). This inaugural design was named, quite simply, Première: “first”. Its geometric form is rooted in the history and hallmarks of the Parisian house. The octagonal case is modelled on Place Vendôme where Chanel opened a boutique in 1990, across from the Ritz where Gabrielle Chanel occupied a suite. The baton hands recreate the shadow cast by the column erected in the centre of the square, unencumbered by numerals or indexes on the black lacquer dial. The bevelled sapphire crystal clearly alludes to the stopper of the Chanel N°5 perfume bottle. As for the chain bracelet interwoven with leather, it references the strap of Chanel’s famed 2.55 quilted bag. This reissue of the Première in its original version celebrates the watch’s 35th anniversary.