Ruby-Set J12 X-RAY Tops Chanel's New Haute Horlogerie Red Edition Collection
Ninety-two rubies add contrast to transparent sapphire crystal J12.
Chanel has dressed three of its haute horlogerie watches up in daring shades of red for 2022.
Following 2020’s X-Ray watches milled from transparent sapphire crystal and last year’s focus on neon rainbow watches, 2022 sees three timepieces recreated to honor one of Coco Chanel’s favorite colors.
The J12 X-RAY Red Edition Rouge – which is limited to 12 pieces – uses 92 baguette-cut rubies to bring contrast to its sapphire crystal case and bracelet and 18K white gold bezel, crown and folding clasp. Even the plate and bridges of the manually wound 3.1 manufacture movement are made of transparent sapphire crystal, revealing movement components usually obstructed.
Chanel
“As a stylistic device, I have used it on three Haute Horlogerie creations,” says Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the Chanel Watchmaking Creation Studio. “I like the boldness of a movement made up in red, the sensuality of the marriage of beige gold and rubies, the authority of a glossy red strap against a wrist. There is nothing faint-hearted about red! It has an uncompromising elegance.”
Elsewhere in the Red Edition Collection, Chastaingt has transformed Chanel’s BOY.FRIEND watch for women with both Skeleton Red and Skeleton X-RAY Red Editions which are limited to 55 and 100 pieces respectively and priced $149,700 USD and $89,800 USD. The J12 X-RAY Red Edition Rouge is listed as Price on Application.
In other watch news, H.Moser & Cie and The Armoury collaborate on Total Eclipse limited editions.
