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Chanel J12 Watch Calibre 12.1, 38 Mm
Ref. H5705
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Stepping up in the same dial colour
The J12 arrived in 2000 as something genuinely unusual: a luxury sports watch built entirely in ceramic at a time when the material was still treated as a novelty rather than a serious case choice. The white version in particular made an argument that ceramic could be polished to a depth that metal rarely matches, and the 38mm diameter landed it squarely between the original 33mm and the larger 41mm, a size that sits without fuss on most wrists regardless of gender. The Calibre 12.1 inside was developed with Kenissi — the movement manufacture behind several high-end Swiss houses — and it replaced the earlier outsourced movement with something built expressly for the J12. The ceramic bracelet is the detail that rewards closer attention: the links have a consistency of finish that is difficult to achieve in the material, and the folding clasp adjusts cleanly without the slight looseness that plagues some ceramic bracelets over time.
- Reference
- H5705
- Brand
- Chanel
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 12.6mm
- Case material
- Two-tone
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Solar
- Calibre
- 12.1
- Functions
- Chronograph, GMT, Day-date, Small seconds, Moonphase, Power reserve indicator, Tachymeter, Skeleton dial, Stopwatch, Countdown timer, Alarm, Backlight, World time, Perpetual calendar, Solar powered, Radio controlled, Bluetooth, Step counter, Heart rate, GPS, Compass, Thermometer, Altimeter, Tide graph, Dual display
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Mesh bracelet
- Strap colour
- Bronze
- Clasp
- Butterfly clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 70 hours
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 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,683), Chronograph Watches (1,219), Sports Watches (800), Dive Watches (568), Skeleton Watches (307) and GMT Watches (242).
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What the specifications mean
A watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 200m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- 38mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
Chanel J12 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | H5705 | 1-90-02-42-32-71 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,400 | £11,000 |
| Case size | 38mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 200m | — |
| Movement | Solar | Solar |
| Strap | Mesh bracelet | Mesh bracelet |
| Power reserve | 70 hours | — |
| This watch |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 200m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
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?
No. It charges from light, and the cell behind that is designed to last a decade or more.
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
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £8,400, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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