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Chanel Premiere Ribbon Watch
Ref. H7942
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Stepping up in the same dial colour
The Première was Chanel's first watch, introduced in 1987, and its shape has never needed explaining: the octagonal case traces directly to the stopper of the No. 5 bottle, and the proportions of Place Vendôme sit somewhere in the geometry. This version replaces the original interlaced chain bracelet with a black rubber strap finished to a matte, velvet-like texture — a reinterpretation that keeps the dressing-up intention while sitting more quietly on the wrist. At 19.7mm across and 15.2mm lug to lug, it wears as jewellery scaled for the wrist rather than as a watch that happens to be small. The black lacquered dial carries no hour markers, so the 52 diamonds set into the bezel do the visual work entirely, catching light against the dark ground. The crown is finished with an onyx cabochon — a detail that only reveals itself close up, and one that is consistent with everything else here being resolved rather than approximate.
- Reference
- H7942
- Brand
- Chanel
- Collection
- PremièreCase Size: 19
- Case size
- 19.7mm
- Case thickness
- 7.5mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Rectangular
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Movement
- Quartz
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- 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 Stainless Steel Watches (2,351), Watches Under 37mm (1,065), Women's Watches (1,003) and Rectangular & Square Watches (221).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 19.7mm 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
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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