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Chanel Premiere Edition Originale
Ref. H6951
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Stepping up in the same dial colour
The Première began in 1987 as Chanel's first foray into watchmaking, and its geometry was never arbitrary: the octagonal case traces directly to the stopper of No. 5, which itself echoes the Place Vendôme. This Edition Originale is a reissue of that founding piece, unchanged in its logic — a watch conceived not from horology outward but from the house's existing visual language inward. At 20mm and 7.6mm deep, it sits on the wrist as jewellery first and watch second, which is consistent with everything else about it. The black lacquer dial carries no indices at all, leaving the octagonal frame and the gold hands to carry all the visual work. The bracelet continues the argument: gold-plated steel interwoven with black leather ribbons, built on the same principle as the quilted bag strap, fastening through a clasp hidden within the chain so that nothing interrupts the line. The onyx cabochon on the crown is the one flourish, and it is small enough to read as considered rather than decorative. There is no lume, and none is pretended at — this is a watch for rooms with light in them.
- Reference
- H6951
- Brand
- Chanel
- Case size
- 30mm
- Case thickness
- 7.6mm
- Case material
- Gold
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Black
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Gem set
- Yes
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), Two-Tone Watches (297) and Solid Gold Watches (72).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 30mm 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 | H6951 |  278590-6015 |  L52005707 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,860 | £4,740 | £4,650 |
| Case size | 30mm | 30mm | 29mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 30m | 30m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch | Closely matched | 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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