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Chanel J12 Watch, 28MM
Ref. H10132
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The J12 arrived in 2000 as something with almost no precedent: a sports watch built entirely from ceramic at a moment when the material was barely established in horology, and conceived by a fashion house that had no prior watchmaking identity to fall back on. Its inspiration was the J Class racing yachts — large, uncompromising machines built for pure performance — and that contrast, between that source and the finished object's refinement, is what has made the J12 last. At 28mm and 8.8mm deep, this is the most jewellery-like reading of the silhouette: close to the wrist, unobtrusive under a cuff, the white ceramic warmer and smoother against the skin than it looks in photographs. The dial's black numerals and individually placed ceramic hour markers give it enough legibility to read as a watch rather than an ornament, while the fixed bezel with its polished sapphire insert ring keeps the surface uncluttered. The bracelet's triple-folding clasp sits flush with the links, so the ceramic wraps the wrist continuously without a visible interruption.
- Reference
- H10132
- Brand
- Chanel
- Collection
- J12
- Case size
- 28mm
- Case thickness
- 8.8mm
- Case material
- Ceramic
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- White
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Ceramic bracelet
- Strap colour
- White
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Learn more about Chanel
Gabrielle Chanel opened her first shop in 1910 and spent the following decades removing things from women's clothing — corsetry, ornament, the assumption that formality required discomfort. The jersey suit, the little black dress and No. 5 came from that.
The watches are made in-house, not licensed. Chanel opened its own watch manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1993 and has since taken stakes in the movement maker Kenissi, giving it access to genuinely serious mechanics.
Two designs define the output. The Première of 1987 took its octagonal case from the stopper of the No. 5 bottle and its chain-and-leather bracelet from the quilted handbag. The J12 of 2000 was made almost entirely from high-tech ceramic at a time when almost nobody was doing it, and it changed what a fashion house's watch could be taken seriously as.
More recently the Monsieur and the Code Coco have carried in-house calibres, including a jumping-hour movement developed by Chanel itself.
The company remains privately owned by the Wertheimer family.
- 1910
- Gabrielle Chanel opens her first shop in Paris.
- 1987
- The Première introduces the octagonal No. 5 case.
- 1993
- Opens its own watch manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
- 2000
- The J12 arrives in high-tech ceramic.
- 2016
- The Monsieur brings a Chanel in-house calibre.
Also in 3 collections
This watch appears in the Chanel J12 range (29), Watches Under 37mm (1,536) and Ceramic Watches (98).
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 28mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Chanel's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
Chanel J12 Watch, alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | H10132 | L52005707 | 278590-6015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,340 | £4,650 | £4,740 |
| Case size | 28mm | 29mm | 30mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 30m | 30m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Ceramic bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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