Yes that sleekest of sleek watches the Chanel J12 Chromatic has its very own launch video that showcases the smooth curves of this brand new watch from Chanel.The Jewellery Editor is exclusively showing this very elegant animation that counters our notions of time and gravity. What is new about this version of the J12 is its enigmatic new guise: titanium ceramic. The addition of titanium to the ceramic recipe produces a cloudy-sky grey hue that once polished with diamond powder develops an attractive sheen that catches the light. But unlike its more humble cousin steel, ceramic is warm to the touch, light weight and scratch proof. Ceramic is increasingly present in the watch industry though previously the material was valuable to the F1 motor racing world and used as heat shields on space shuttles. For all its user-friendly characteristic, producing high-tech ceramic in colours other than black or white has proved a challenge for the watch industry where aesthetics are paramount. This is why the arrival of the J12 Chromatic in a new variant of high-tech ceramic is so significant. And it not only looks good, but has a soft almost fluid feel to it when on the skin. You really have to feel it to understand just how comfortable and tactile this material is. Chanel is betting on this new hue of ceramic by launching not just one but seven new watches for both men and women. A 33 mm quartz version set with baguette diamonds (ref. 2912) is an alternative to the larger 38 mm automatic (ref 2913) with the same baguette diamond setting. For those who prefer round cut diamonds, the (ref 2565) sparkles most attractively and in a 33 mm case with a quartz movement. The largest is the 41 mm automatic model (ref 2934) water resistant to 200 meters with a uni-directional bezel. The J12 Chromatic takes Chanel's iconic watch into a new era. Watch my video of CEO of Chanel Philippe Mougenot talking about the inspiration behind the new arrival at BaselWorld 2011.
