In 1987, Chanel launched its first collection of ladies’ watches, the Première timepieces, and their unusual geometry was inspired by the octagonal perimeter of Place Vendôme, just like the stopper on the Nº5 perfume bottle.
Developing more complications over the years, the Première Flying Tourbillon features a stylised camellia flower studded with diamonds in the centre, and a white gold case set with baguette-cut blue sapphires on the sides, the bezel and even on the crown. The generous use of white brilliant-cut diamonds exalts the rich corn-blue colour of the sapphires to even greater effect.
Chanel Première Flying Tourbillon watch, 2014 A stylised camellia flower twirls with the tourbillon while beautiful pink sapphires grace the white gold case. (click photo to enlarge)
Indisputably Chanel and mesmerisingly pretty, the 2014 interpretation of the Première Flying Tourbillon watch, a limited-edition of just 20 pieces, was set to be one of the showstoppers at Baselworld.
First launched two years ago and winner of the best wmen’s watch in the 2012 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie in Geneve, the Chanel Première Flying Tourbillon watch is not only beautiful to look at. It also features one of the most impressive watch complications around, a 225-part flying tourbillon movement developed exclusively for Chanel by legendary Swiss manufacturers, engineers and master watchmakers Renaud & Papi. A real technical wonder.
Like its 2012 and 2013 predecessors, the latest design incorporates Mademoiselle Chanel’s favourite flower, the camellia, which cleverly forms the watch movement. The camellia flower performs one rotation per minute, with the petals of the flying tourbillon indicating the passing of the seconds.
A limited edition of 20 pieces, the flying tourbillon movement in Chanel’s new Première Flying Tourbillon watch is crafted in the shape of Mademoiselle Chanel’s favourite flower, the camellia.
Each watch takes more than 100 hours to assemble and requires 23 hours of setting work. Featuring 169 diamonds as well as 63 baguette-cut pink sapphires set around the white gold case and crown, this is a timepiece for women who demand the very best in design and function. Chanel watches Première Flying Tourbillon owes its octagonal geometry to the Place Vendôme, just like the stopper on Chanel’s No.5 perfume bottle. A stylised camellia flower twirls with the tourbillon while intense blue sapphires grace the white gold case.
Chanel Première Flying Tourbillon watch, 2015 A stylised camellia flower twirls with the tourbillon while intense blue sapphires grace the white gold case.
by Jean Amr
Yakymour 