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Chanel Premiere 23mm Ladies Watch
Ref. H6951XL
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Stepping up in the same dial colour
The Première began in 1987, when Jacques Helleu drew Chanel's first wristwatch not from the conventions of horology but from the House's own objects. The octagonal case echoes the stopper of N°5, itself a reference to the Place Vendôme, so the geometry carries a depth of internal reference unusual for any watch, let alone one this slim. At 7.6mm, it sits beneath a cuff without complaint. The dial makes a deliberate choice: no indices, no markers, nothing but two gold hands against deep black lacquer. It asks the wearer to read the time rather than scan it, which suits a watch whose purpose is as much about what it looks like as what it does. The crown is set with an ogive-cut onyx cabochon — a detail that repays closer attention. The strap itself continues the logic: leather interwoven with chain, a direct echo of the quilted bag handle, making the piece legible as Chanel from a distance without any visible branding required.
- Reference
- H6951XL
- Brand
- Chanel
- Collection
- Premiere
- Case size
- 23mm
- Case thickness
- 7.6mm
- Case material
- Gold PVD
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Origin
- Swiss made
- Warranty
- 5 years
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 (4,847), Watches Under 37mm (1,704), Women's Watches (1,622), Leather Strap Watches (1,049), Gold Watches (688) and Dress Watches (546).
What the specifications mean
A slim watch on leather, made for wearing with a shirt.
Strengths
- 23mm 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 Premiere alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | H6951XL | L43410806 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,400 | £3,650 |
| Case size | 23mm | 24mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 30m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch |
|
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 women's.
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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