Chanel Horlogerie
PREMIÈRE ÉDITION ORIGINALE
Timeless Elegance Unveiled
The PREMIÈRE ÉDITION ORIGINALE, a reissue of the first CHANEL watch, is worn like a piece of jewelry. Inspired by the codes of the House, this creation with distinctive lines evokes the stopper of the N°5 fragrance bottle. The supple chain bracelet interlaced with leather echoes the chain of classic CHANEL handbags. The black-lacquer dial with golden hands and no numerals underlines the essential: a spirit of freedom and audacity unique to CHANEL.
Directed by Inez & Vinoodh, the film features Lily-Rose Depp in Gabrielle Chanel’s mythical apartment at 31 rue Cambon in Paris.
In 1987, CHANEL unveiled the Premiere watch: a timeless creation for women by Artistic Director Jacques Helleu. Inspired by the iconic octagonal stopper of the N°5 perfume bottle and the interlaced leather chain of the legendary quilted handbag, the Premiere watch broke free from the conventions of men's watchmaking, creating surprise in a world dominated by established codes. In 2022, CHANEL is reviving the Premiere watch with a version subtly
reimagined by Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the Studio de Design Horloger.
In the CHANEL watchmaking universe, the Première watch has been shining since 1987. Choosing for its dial the octagonal shape of the N°5 perfume bottle stopper and dressing it in black lacquer, borrowing for its strap the interlaced leather chain of the iconic quilted bag, the Première watch has never ceased to surprise in a world hitherto defined by masculine watchmaking standards. Perhaps because it remains firmly anchored in the present. Thirty-five years after its creation, this veritable lesson in style reappears in its original form, adorned with what it holds most dear: its timeless allure.
Surprise
La première incursion de CHANEL dans l'horlogerie, la montre Premiere, est née en 1987 sous l'impulsion créative de Jacques Helleu. Directeur artistique de la Maison, il avait rejoint CHANEL trente ans plus tôt pour s'occuper des "questions de goût". Cet homme non conventionnel, dédié à CHANEL depuis l'âge de 18 ans, s'interrogeait avec humour sur "ce qu'il en était" alors que le succès de la montre Premiere affirmait son talent déterminé. "Je me suis battu pour créer un modèle fort, unique, qui resterait une référence, et non pour lancer une nouvelle collection", a déclaré celui qui a fait entrer CHANEL dans le monde de l'horlogerie.
MUSE
"Elégante, raffinée, chic, classique. Cette montre ne pouvait être créée que par CHANEL". Lily-Rose Depp, actrice et ambassadrice de CHANEL.
LIBERTY
La montre Premiere fait une entrée remarquée car elle s'émancipe des normes masculines pour habiller les poignets des femmes. Pour la première fois, une montre destinée aux femmes n'est pas une adaptation réduite d'une montre d'homme mais une création élégante et impertinente qui leur est dédiée. Depuis 1987, l'esprit de la montre Premiere n'a pas changé : elle célèbre la liberté de celles qui vivent l'instant et ne chérissent que le présent.
ICONS
Easily recognizable, the Premiere watch's octagonal case is adorned with a beveled crystal. This geometry is directly inspired by the N°5 perfume bottle stopper, which also evokes the design of Place Vendôme, a view Gabrielle Chanel enjoyed from her suite at the Ritz. Another iconic feature is the intertwined leather chain borrowed from the legendary quilted bag, transformed into a supple bracelet with an exquisitely refined clasp. Thus, the Premiere watch plays with these icons to create a new one that defies the test of time.
BLACK & GOLD
An octagonal case in yellow gold encloses a black lacquered dial: a smooth surface that stretches without concern for the hour. Here, there are no numbers or indices, no seconds hand or date window. Beneath the beveled crystal, only two golden hands with clean lines move gracefully on this miniature infinity. A crown adorned with an onyx cabochon completes this two-tone geometry.
YOUNG DEBUTANTE
In 1987, for the Premiere watch's launch, CHANEL opened two dedicated boutiques – on Avenue Montaigne in Paris and Rue du Rhône in Geneva – followed by Place Vendôme in 1990. The Premiere watch appeared with the freshness of a young debutante and, over time, showcased its various interpretations with equal ingenuity and elegance. In 2023, as CHANEL's horology and jewelry have taken residence in the fully renovated mansion at 18 Place Vendôme, the Premiere watch returns to the limelight in a subtly reimagined version, staying true to itself and boldly attuned to the present.
Copyright CHANEL
