Any Chanel J12 love here?
Let me tell you a joke about my watch journey as a man.
Firstly I am not really a watch/accessories man.
As a teen, my first loved watch was (candy baby) blue baby G from Casio. Baby G supposed to be a girl's watch while G shock for boys (my adult sister wears G Shock).
It left my wrist after some time because of tropical weather in Singapore.
Then as an adult who knew nothing about watches, Chanel J12 Chromatic (41mm) became my first "dream" watch because of its colour and "stealth" like attribute. And the main thing was its in-house Chanel font for its indices. (It's like I'm paying for it's font. Not too tall, fat, thin, well proportioned. It is hard to find nice font numbers on dial these days.
I even visited Chanel and got a free book (catalog of watches) from them. Mont Blanc too was interesting.
I was never into Seiko. But from Seiko I was led to GS and SBGA413 became my current dream watch and still is. Hope they will update it with 9ra2 movement and reduce its thickness by a bit more.
Then now at 35, with small wrist and paying attention to lug-to-lug, I revisited J12 (38mm), although they don't sell Chromatic colour anymore which I hope they will release it with the latest movement, I realized it's proportion (case to bezel) plus female end-links seems to be perfect visually and on paper (for my wrist).
I understand Chanel is a fashion brand. And there's nothing significant about it's watch pedigree and movement etc. And it is often too expensive for what people are getting for their watch.
I like to hear more criticisms about J12 from the watch community and wonder why although it sells but it was never a topic among watch enthusiasts.
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
My grandfather story 😅
J12 is a bit of a sleeper hit among enthusiasts. Chanel - a bit like Hermes - has a bit of a fan base.
Now you point it out that is an excellent font!
It shares heritage with Tudor and that can't be a bad thing. A discount BB58 with the same quality.
J12 is a bit of a sleeper hit among enthusiasts. Chanel - a bit like Hermes - has a bit of a fan base.
Now you point it out that is an excellent font!
I was a graphic design student, the first thing that caught my eye was actually the font on the watch...
I am drawn to GS because of dial texture.
Definitely a cool watch, a single piece ceramic case with sapphire crystal, 70hrs power reserve, tungsten rotor weight, COSC certified with a movement made by Swiss Kenissi Manufacture for Chanel as they're shareholders, which as others as have said, make Tudor movements. Also a killer font! What's not to like?!
The Mrs has a white ceramic DKNY which has always been a favourite. I plan on getting her the J12, it's a great looking watch, different from the usual Cartier / DJ, and I haven't seen one in the wild.
For the UK contingent, Fiona Bruce wears one for Question Time and Fake or Fortune.
I know Chanel invested into Kenissi with Tudor, but every time I hear the brand name, I can’t help but follow it up in my head with the words “No. 5.”
And then this pops into it:
Death of Stalin. Great black comedy.
You've largely answered your own question, via acknowledging it's a fashion brand. While it's true that fashion brands aren't created equal - someone would be a fool to think Montblanc watches are silly, for example, just because it's better-known as a pen company - the average watch fan will see a fashion brand on the dial, note how long they've 'made' watches, what the guts of the watch are... and nine times out of ten, be totally uninterested in the watch, versus what else is out there. And so don't discuss them.
The Mrs has a white ceramic DKNY which has always been a favourite. I plan on getting her the J12, it's a great looking watch, different from the usual Cartier / DJ, and I haven't seen one in the wild.
For the UK contingent, Fiona Bruce wears one for Question Time and Fake or Fortune.
Omg last night I said to my partner whilst watching antiques roadshow “that looks like a white Chanel j12”.. and here you are confirming it..
I reckon Chanel has the makings of a great watchmaker, but I can’t get over glossy ceramic. Just looks too toy-like to me! Make it matte, however… we can talk 😆
I like the J12. It’s gets right what a lot of “proper” watches don’t: consistency. My favourite bit is the numerals, and I like the dial textures. Go for it.
Chanel watches are not bad at all. I believe they own a stake in "Tudor's" movement maker.
In fact this watch uses the movement I so often wish Tudor would put in some watches, the MT54xx with a date. So the internals are decent and ceramic cases are expensive. Tudor charges 2000 less without the bracelet which seems about right. You can probably get a bit of a discount on the Chanel 😏
If it suits your style it it's a cool watch!
The J12 is my wife’s favourite watch which, if you see her collection, is a solid endorsement of this model.
As already said, it is a full ceramic case and bracelet with a unique spring loaded butterfly clasp. It’s a Kenissi movement with one more jewel than the Tudor movement to accommodate the date wheel. It has a display back. It is COSC certified with 70 hours power reserve. It is also a GPHG award winner.
Suffice it to say that the J12 is a serious and impressive watch. My only complaint is the way the date numeral is angled away from the wearer instead of towards them but that is a small and subjective aesthetic matter. It really is a great watch all things considered.
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/living-with-the-chanel-j12
Just saw this article
The J12 is my wife’s favourite watch which, if you see her collection, is a solid endorsement of this model.
As already said, it is a full ceramic case and bracelet with a unique spring loaded butterfly clasp. It’s a Kenissi movement with one more jewel than the Tudor movement to accommodate the date wheel. It has a display back. It is COSC certified with 70 hours power reserve. It is also a GPHG award winner.
Suffice it to say that the J12 is a serious and impressive watch. My only complaint is the way the date numeral is angled away from the wearer instead of towards them but that is a small and subjective aesthetic matter. It really is a great watch all things considered.
Great! Thanks for the encouragement
Great! Thanks for the encouragement
Of course I forgot that it is also 200m water resistant which is also more than respectable.
The J12 is my wife’s favourite watch which, if you see her collection, is a solid endorsement of this model.
As already said, it is a full ceramic case and bracelet with a unique spring loaded butterfly clasp. It’s a Kenissi movement with one more jewel than the Tudor movement to accommodate the date wheel. It has a display back. It is COSC certified with 70 hours power reserve. It is also a GPHG award winner.
Suffice it to say that the J12 is a serious and impressive watch. My only complaint is the way the date numeral is angled away from the wearer instead of towards them but that is a small and subjective aesthetic matter. It really is a great watch all things considered.
Thank you for putting this out there. It’s a serious timepiece.
It shares heritage with Tudor and that can't be a bad thing. A discount BB58 with the same quality.
Uhh the cheapest Chanel J12 is 1500-2000 USD more than BB 58.
Uhh the cheapest Chanel J12 is 1500-2000 USD more than BB 58.
Both companies own the movement factory
Love the J12!!
I’ve wanted to try one on for the longest time and still haven’t found it in person.
An unscratchable 200m diver, with a date, and a Kenissi movement!! that’s a badass collectors watch NOT a fashion watch!
I’d even get the white one or something flashier than the black if there were that option 🤩
Both companies own the movement factory
Non sequitur
Yes, yes, yes, Chanel bought interest in Tudor owned Kenessi.
You said Chanel J12 was a “discount BB58”, I said the cheapest Chanel is 1.5-2k more expensive…never mind
From what I can remember, Chanel watches in Singapore are not carried by any AD. It's a Boutique only brand, non nego on the sticker price. Maybe you can list that as a negative point since you're looking for one.