It’s been 20 years since the Chanel J-12 stepped on the watch scene. Chanel’s signature watch was first realized in black, followed by a reincarnation in white three years later. The J12 revolutionized the world of watchmaking and was crowned the first watch icon of the 21st century. 

To celebrate 20 years of this incredible time piece, Chanel has brought the J12 out to play. The limited-edition Chanel J12-20 takes twenty symbols and references from the Maison Chanel including the brand’s 2.55 bag, a camellia, a bottle of No. 5 perfume and even a tweed jacket and emblazons them on the face of the watch. 

The J12-20 is punctuated with 12 diamond and is limited to 2020 pieces, The watch is equipped with the caliber 12. 1 and also available on the Haute Horlogerie enameled version, numbered and limited to 5 pieces. 

For those who had been stuck choosing between the black and white, now you no longer have to choose. An edition of the watch that is a mix of both black and white has been created in a highly technical feat for the brand. Called the J12 Paradoxe, the creation of the watch was accomplished by cutting and fusing two ceramic cases of different dimensions — one white and the other black. 

Born from scratch-resistant ceramic, the production of this watch was unexpectedly complex. To ensure a perfect cut without breaking the material required a particular expertise mastered by the Chanel Manufacture in Switzerland. Once cut, the two parts are assembled on a metallic support into which the sapphire caseback is set. 

The dial is revealed to be almost completed covered in white, juxtaposed by a stroke of black on its right side. Using tampography, the ring of the bezel is initially colored black, then white, rendering it in two-tone. 

Happy 20th anniversary, J12.