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Chanel J12 Watch, 28MM
Ref. H11770
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The J12 arrived in 2000 as something genuinely unusual: a ceramic sports watch from a fashion house that could hold its own against dedicated horological marques on material terms. The black ceramic used throughout this 28mm version is polished with diamond powder, which gives it a depth and smoothness that standard ceramic finishing does not produce. The bezel carries a ceramic insert rather than bare steel, so the monochrome read holds across the whole case rather than breaking at the edge. At 28mm and 8.8mm thick it sits close to the wrist without bulk, legible without drawing attention. The rubber strap is a considered departure from the full-ceramic bracelet associated with most J12 references — it lightens the watch considerably and makes it more comfortable in warm weather, while the steel ardillon buckle keeps fitting straightforward. The rhodium-plated hour markers and luminous hands give the black dial genuine contrast, which matters more than it might seem on a dial this compact.
- Reference
- H11770
- Brand
- Chanel
- Collection
- J12Case Size: 28 mmCase Thickness: 8
- Case size
- 28mm
- Case thickness
- 8.8mm
- Case material
- Ceramic
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
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 4 collections
This watch appears in Watches Under 37mm (1,065), Women's Watches (1,003), All Black Watches (253) and Ceramic Watches (88).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
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
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | H11770 |  L52000756 |  278590-3001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,000 | £3,700 | £4,520 |
| Case size | 28mm | 29mm | 30mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 30m | 30m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber 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.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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