Chanel J12 The Model Gen Z Timepiece

Consider the Chanel J12 the model Gen Z timepiece. Born in the year 2000 with a gender-neutral design so ahead of its time, it's stuck coolly by its original look and identity, no matter how wild its makeovers get in the name of creative expression. This month, Chanel will hold an interactive exhibition on it right here in Singapore (stay glued to our digital platforms for details). As a teaser, Female and the maison offer a primer on this Y2K icon.

- Coordination Noelle Loh

The Chanel J12 watch was the brainchild of Chanel's late artistic director Jacques Helleu, who was behind some of the brand's most unexpected and powerful campaigns (check out his simple yet enigmatic print ads for Chanel N°5 starring a 20-something Catherine Deneuve, or the surreal, Ridley Scott-directed TV commercials for the perfume, from the '70s and '80s). Designing the timepiece with himself in mind, Helleu drew from two worlds that he was obsessed with: those of automobile racing and sailing. Even the name J12 was borrowed from the yachts that compete in America's Cup. Far from being purely sporty though, the results were considered trailblazing and fashion-forward, thanks to the use of slick and highly resistant ceramic, first in all-black and then in all-white. The two colours are signature to the Maison and had never previously been used in the same way in watchmaking. Today, both styles remain not just the bedrock but are also bestsellers of the entire J12 collection. J12 33mm ceramic and steel watch; Coco Crush 18K white gold small ring with diamonds (on index finger); matching 18K beige gold mini-ring (on the third finger, top); and Comete Chevron 18K white gold ring with diamonds (on the third finger, bottom), all Chanel Watches & Fine Jewellery. Tweed coat, Chanel