Luxury house Chanel unveiled its Chanel Première Édition Originale 2024 Watch campaign starring Blackpink member Jennie. The shoot took place at the iconic Ritz Paris on Place Vendôme and was captured by the renowned fashion photography duo, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. The campaign brings to light the reissue of Chanel’s first-ever watch.
The Première Édition Originale is a declaration of style, worn as a piece of jewellery that encapsulates the essence of Chanel. Its design, inspired by the iconic N°5 fragrance bottle stopper, is a proof of the enduring design codes of the House. The watch’s supple chain bracelet, woven with leather, mirrors the timeless elegance of Chanel’s classic handbags. This combination of elements serves as a nod to the brand’s heritage as well as a statement of sophisticated style.
The watch itself is a masterpiece of design purity and refined detail, embodying timeless style. The emerald-cut bevelled crystal lays atop a sleek black-lacquer dial, which eschews numerals for golden hands, highlighting Chanel’s spirit of freedom and audacity. The crown is set with an onyx cabochon, fusing the signature Chanel colours of black and gold in a display of understated elegance.
Gold, a symbol of Gabrielle Chanel’s passion for the glittering allure of baroque, Byzantine, and Venetian treasures, plays a central role in the watch’s design. It complements the intense black, a colour that for Chanel, emphasizes the essential, creating a piece that is both bold and sophisticated.
The bracelet’s design is a feat of engineering and style, its suppleness allowing it to encircle the wrist comfortably, secured with a clasp that bears the Chanel inscription. This design element pays homage to the original Première watch introduced by Chanel in 1987, which itself was inspired by the House’s rich design principles. The case’s shape, reminiscent of the N°5 perfume stopper, and the original leather-interlaced chain, now reimagined in various materials, underscore the brand’s innovative spirit and commitment to timeless, feminine elegance.