Earlier this year, at Chanel's Watches and Wonders 2024 ,booth in Geneva, a simple yet powerful display set the tone for everything one could expect from the brand. A single, floor-to-ceiling golden needle placed at the centre of the monochromatic booth showcased not just the theme of its novelties, but veritably tied everything that was displayed there, together. It pointed to the new Couture O'Clock collection, a capsule line of timepieces inspired by the aesthetic of founder Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel's atelier, and the tools used and craftsmanship displayed by her seamstresses. Their everyday work instruments-couture busts, thimbles, safety pins, needles, measuring tapes, and more are the motifs interpreted in a range of delightful watches.
Understandably, most legacy fashion brands who are also seriously invested in watchmaking draw deeply from their heritage. Hermès's equestrian connect finds representation in its watches, just like the bee motif does in Gucci timepieces, a symbol associated with the brand since the 1970s. Chanel has toed the same line. The case of its Première collection of watches evokes the stopper of the Chanel N°5 fragrance bottle, and the bracelet, interlaced with leather, the chain of Chanel handbags; its Code Coco line features an iconic clasp and a bracelet with a quilted motif.
Add to that the abundant use of black and white as colour themes, and motifs like camellias, pearls, the lion, and more-all things Coco Chanel favoured-in its watches time and time again. This year, however, the Watch Creation Studio, led by Arnaud Chastaingt, chose to highlight the heritage of the brand by interpreting the work that goes on in its Rue Cambon ateliers in Paris. The building at 31, Rue Cambon, functioned as Coco Chanel's personal residence, a boutique, and a couture atelier.
Headlining this collection is a J12 Atelier Couture Automaton Watch Caliber 6.
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Denne historien er fra Watches for Women 2024-utgaven av WatchTime India.
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Blast From the Past
In the 1950s, success was celebrated by treating yourself to an elegant, diamond-set watch. One of the most precious offerings of those days was the Signet, made by Longines, which was itself a symbol of the great success the brand enjoyed.
TIME AFTER TIME
A view of the innovation of pioneering German watch brand Junghans, and its Max Bill collection that has a legion of fans
BORN TO SERVE
The interaction in design between military watches and their civilian siblings
SECOND NATURE
Grand Seiko's SLGA025G - High Intensity Titanium 9RA2 Spring Drive 5 Days 'Atera Valley' makes you look deep into the emerald blue waters of the Atera river in the Nagano Prefecture, where the brand's watches are made. We dived straight in for a close look.
Walking Through Glashütte, Part I: The Foundation Of a Legacy
Glashütte's journey to becoming Germany's watchmaking capital reads like a good novel. It is a story where tremendous effort and risk go hand in hand but where resilience is eventually rewarded, only to have to do it all over again.
COMING BACK TO LIFE
After Breitling's acquisition, Universal Genève recently unveiled three new models that join its historic Polerouter line. We recap what makes the brand, and the line, iconic.
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
Built under the stewardship of Ming Thein, independent brand Horologer Ming SA is known for its distinct design and an approach that is constantly trying to 'find the new' in watchmaking. With 2024 proving to be a milestone year, we spoke to its CEO Praneeth Rajsingh on what it takes to build a brand like Horologer Ming.
ALL OR NOTHING
Rolex, MB&F, and Audemars Piguet, not to mention gold and sporty timepieces-we look inside Delhibased collector Sandeep Nair's watch box
BULOVA TIME
In 2025, the New York-based watch brand is celebrating its 150th anniversary. There are not only a lot of groundbreaking innovations to look back on, but also several new releases to look forward to, for example, five new Accutrons and two MIL-SHIPS in bronze.
Watches of the Norden
The Nordic region, comprising Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, is home to several watch brands that have created a unique aesthetic driven by minimalism and inspired by elements that are inherently local
