By Kristen Shirley
This story originally appeared in the November/December 2016 issue of Elite Traveler.
When Chanel does something, you can be assured it will be big and bold.
Its first man’s watch does not disappoint; it has Chanel’s first in-house movement, called Calibre 1, which is also the first integrated movement with double complication for the house.
The elegant yet masculine watch has a 40mm 18K beige gold round case designed specifically for the Monsieur, with a custom-designed font. There are three displays; an extra-wide retrograde minute hand, a seconds subdial and an octagonal window – echoing the shape of Place Vendôme in Paris – which shows the instant jumping hour.
The back of the watch is almost a different timepiece; heavy-duty watchmaking is visible through a transparent black cover. The movement is black; a mix of glossy and matte ADLC carbon. This took Chanel five years to develop and it will only ever be used in the Monsieur – a significant investment for one timepiece. This project launched a partnership between Chanel and Romain Gauthier, one of Switzerland’s most talented independent watchmakers. This manual movement has a three-day power reserve and a retrograde minute bidirectional corrector. Chanel is initially releasing 300 pieces,150 in 18K white gold, and 150 in 18K beige gold.
Monsieur de Chanel, $36,000 in white gold, $34,500 in beige gold, available at Chanel boutiques, chanel.com
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