It’s probably difficult to comprehend how a “simple” wrist watch could costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, however this impressive time piece by Chanel does. The French fashion and design company was founded in 1909 by a woman named Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel who started her business as a fashionable, high-end hat manufacturer. The company grew into a major player in the fashion industry and is now known as a prominent industry leader, speacilizng in haute couture (high-fashion). In addition to their prominent and diverse clothing line, the company also makes some pretty cool jewelry and watches. An “inexpensive” Chanel watch will probably run you at least $4,000 dollars. You won’t believe how much this one costs.
The J12 Rétrograde Mystérieuse (pictured above) is part of Chanel’s “Exceptional Pieces” collection, which include their extremely rare and their most expensive watches, and that is exactly what this watch is. First of all, there are only going to be ten of these watches produced in either 18 karat white gold or 18 karat pink gold, with high-tech black ceramic. Chanel produces this watch to “confirm its status as a contemporary watchmaking pioneer”. The watch has a few “world premier features” which are: a tourbillon, a digital minute display, a retrograde minute hand, a 10-day power reserve, and a retractable vertical crown.
Easily the most interesting feature of the watch is the retrograde minute hand. When the minute hand strikes the built in crown around the three o’clock position, it turns around and moves counterclockwise to the other side, where it then moves clockwise again. To remain accurate, minutes 11-19 are displayed in a small separate display located at the six o’clock position. The watch has 44 jewels and features sapphire crystal on the back. Additionally the watch is also water resistant up to 100 feet. The case and the case back are made from white gold, and the bezel is made from white gold and twelve high-tech black ceramic inserts.
If you want one of these watches you will have to contact Chanel directly as they are being produced in such a limited amount. Oh, and also be prepared to shell out around $262,000 dollars for it.
Photo from chanel.com
