Chanel Première Tourbillon Volant Watch Hands-On

Chanel Première Tourbillon Volant Watch Hands-On Hands-On


Chanel Première Tourbillon Volant Watch Hands-On Hands-On

Limited to just 20 pieces, this is a Chanel timepiece you are likely to never actually see in person. I did though, and I am happy to share some views of this award winning high-end watch for women. Even though it wasn’t made for my wrist, I still find it to be a very pretty timepiece.

Produced as an homage to the original Chanel Watch 3072 Première watch collection from 25 years ago, the Première Tourbillon Volant is a beautifully designed rectangular-shaped watch with a case that is made to look a bit like a baguette-cut stone. The case shape is adapted from the original Première collection, but made a bit larger of course. Inside the watch is a special flying tourbillon movement which was produced by Renaud & Papi, continuing Chanel’s relationship with the mostly Audemars Piguet owned specialty movement maker and designer.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQVBbaXEkYM]

Chanel Première Tourbillon Volant Watch Hands-On Hands-On

Interestingly enough, even though all the first G10 watches are 33mm wide and quartz, Chanel Watch Etanche 200m makes them available in white ceramic, black ceramic, or their titanium ceramic hybrid material they call “Chromatic” that is a deep grey color. Options further include the option of brilliant-cut round diamonds or even more angular baguette-cut diamonds (which are likely to be more expensive).Even the hour mark are diamonds or largely diamonds, based on the dial mode. What you’ve overall is a look which isn’t formal or sporty, but somewhere in between that someone might refer to as “casual luxury,” with a different emphasis on “luxury. “33mm wide is possibly a fantastic size, although most J12 watches are a bit larger. The main reason I think Chanel chosen for a 33mm broad size is because with a NATO strap, timepieces tend to wear a little larger. To illustrate this reality I took some pictures of a Chanel J12 G10 on a semi-willing Chanel representative. You can observe how the character of how NATO straps — with their single piece structure — forces them to extend farther than a bracelet may. So to keep the Chanel J12 G10 see the most wearable about the maximum number of feminine wrists, the 33mm wide size appears to function best.For now, the “entry” Chanel J12 G10 watches will be those using the brilliant-cut diamonds. The metallic components on the instance are steel, and given the shape of the diamonds that they are less expensive than the carat intensive baguette-cut stones. Paradoxically, brilliant-cut stones are smaller but do tend to be more… brilliant, in regards to shininess. The versions of the Chanel J12 G10 using baguette-cut stones will likely be paired with 18k white gold alloy elements which comprises the strap hardware and bezel on the case (as well as possibly 18k white gold for the caseback which isn’t ceramic on J12 watches).

The Chanel Première Tourbillon Volant made [watch] news again recently as it was voted the best ladies watch of 2012 in the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve (GPHG), which is like the Oscar’s of the watch industry. Given the piece’s extreme price and exclusivity, I don’t think many people are going to run out and buy one. It does however give Chanel some bragging rights – as its more mainstream J12 watches (typically for women) would not likely ever be recognized by the mostly super high-end award show. Having said that, Chanel hasn’t traditionally had many problems selling J12 watches.

The Première Tourbillon Volant comes in an 18k white gold case that is 37mm tall by 28.5mm wide. It has a load of diamonds all over it. The bezel has 3.9 carats of diamonds on it comprised of 38 baguette-cut stones and 52 brilliant-cut ones. The rest of the case has an additional 3 carats of 47 baguette-cut diamonds. More diamonds exist on the 18k white gold clasp, the crown, as well as on the tip of the flower-style flying tourbillon cage. Oh, and don’t forget the diamonds on the actual hands – you don’t see that very often.

Chanel Première Tourbillon Volant Watch Hands-On Hands-On

In honor of what made Chanel watches so popular, the dial of the Première Tourbillon Volant is done with a piece of polished black ceramic. Note how the sapphire crystal over the dial has beveled edges. What I like about the watch is that despite the fact it is heavily about being covered in diamonds, it does not appear that way at first glance. The mostly minimalist dial is stark and attractive, focusing on the hands and tourbillon. Even though they do have diamonds, it is not meant to be a blindingly shiny timepiece. Once you look at the case from other angles, then you start to see the delicate stone work.

Chanel Première Tourbillon Volant Watch Hands-On Hands-On

The tourbillon “flower” is supposed to be a camellia, which apparently was Coco’s favorite flower. It is quite nice looking and is a solid effort at “feminizing” the tourbillon. The Chanel Première Tourbillon Volant itself is not what I would call a girl’s watch. It is a handsome ladies watch with a lot of elegance and sense of high-stature. Exactly the type of thing the luxury industry likes. Consider it a watch for a mature, successful woman who has already left her footprints on this planet. Now she just has to get the hang of reading the time on this watch. More details from Chanel here.