by Leonore Dicker
 
Chanel has recently unveiled its new watch collection, which will be displayed at this year’s Baselworld show, taking place from March 19^th until March 26^th in Basel, Switzerland.
 
The French label has concocted three groups of watches: J12, Première and Mademoiselle Privé –which all mingle a mechanical drift with refined fashion.
 
In the J12 clan, the most notable watch –made in collaboration with Swiss master watchmakers Renaud & Papi (APRP SA)– is the J12 Skeleton Flying Tourbillon, which elegantly divulges its inner skeleton. Its tourbillon set is denuded from its upper bridge but embellished with a diamond-dusted comet, which makes it sparkle.
 




More wearable options include the J12 watches, which were first launched in 2000, and are now made available in feminine soft powder pastel colors, like light blue, soft pink and green.
 




The titanium high-tech ceramic J12.G.10 watch is an interesting, empowering choice for a woman as it is an adaption of the military NATO strap. Its name alone is the form used to order the legendary military strap.


 


The Première rock metal and Première rock watches have a black or coral core and a double steel chain bracelet –either colored or in metallic– which manages to stay delicate all the while being eye-catching.


 


Similarly to the J12 Flying Skeleton Tourbillon, the Première Openwork Flying Tourbillon is made in collaboration with Renaud & Papi and is marked with their symbol: a stunning diamond-shaped camellia flower.


 


The Mademoiselle Privé collection includes two new unique pieces. The round Mademoiselle Coromandel Dial watches reveal golden glyptic designs of either flowers or birds and are charmingly surrounded by white or beige 18k gold sparkles, and an aggressive black reptile strap.
 




Just like any collection, the finale had to be astonishing. Chanel closed with an infinitely feminine watch: Mademoiselle Privé Camélia Dial, which is set with 330 brilliant-cut diamonds and marked with an exquisite camellia-shaped pearl marquetry.