CIRCLING BACK: After looking at the first moment of Chanel‘s horological history with the relaunch of the Première watch in 2022, it’s a braid from the brand’s couture atelier that director of watchmaking creation studio Arnaud Chastaingt picked up.
Launching Wednesday, the Chanel Première Galon takes the signature octagonal dial from its namesake and sets it on an 18-karat gold bangle that evokes the twists of a braided silk cord.
A novel take of the 1987 concept of a bracelet-like form factor, helped along by hands floating on a black lacquer dial with no indices or numbers on view, this is “a new wear introduced in the Première collection,” one that “anchors the resolutely couture spirit of this design,” Chastaingt said.
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While the Première design has seen iterations that spanned from Cuban-style supple links to the sound-enabled earphone-meets-necklace launched last year, this is the first time the watch has been set on a rigid bracelet.
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For this design, which was unveiled at this year’s Watches and Wonders, he took cues from the trims Gabrielle Chanel introduced as early as the 1910s, used in her emblematic suits to highlight edges, decorating pockets and wrists. The way their presence reinforced the structural work on the silhouette struck him.
In recent weeks the new design has been spotted on a cadre of house ambassadors that includes Blackpink‘s Jennie Kim, American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams, Kristen Stewart and Marion Cotillard.
With prices starting at 15,500 euros for the 18-karat gold version, the Chanel Première Bangle is available in the French fashion house’s stores worldwide that carry its horological collections.