Rave on with Chanel’s electric new watches collection
Chanel has infused its new watches with bold colour in an irreverent rethink of classic designs

Chanel is anticipating a bit of post-pandemic decadence with a new watch collection which zings with neon hues. Director of watchmaking, Arnaud Chastaingt, has infused collections including the J12, the Première and the Code Coco with lighting bolts of neon.
‘I wanted to create an immersive capsule collection inspired by electronic music culture,’ Chastaingt said upon introducing the models. He was inspired by the rave culture of the Nineties for watches which zing with a rainbow of bright hues. ‘The musical movement created a radical new visual universe which was a reflection of the night life and its atmosphere,’ he adds. ‘Electronic music transcended the frontiers of music and created an aesthetic culture.’ The new collection borrows these vibrant codes, juxtaposing the bright pops of the rainbow with deep black for a graphic contrast.
In the Première collection, a black lacquered dial is inscribed with the Chanel logo in neon pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange or red, matching a triple row steel chain woven with a matching colour. In the J12, the bezel is set with baguette-cut rainbow sapphires which loop their hypnotic way around a matte black dial. The Code Coco goes for full on block colour, its calfskin leather strap crafted from quilted neon pink. In the J12 Electro Star, the rainbow sapphires are set into the side profile, making a colourful contrast against the diamonds.
On the Boy-Friend Electro watch, a dash of electro pink hidden in the lining of the bracelet lets a robot on the dial drawn in diamonds take centre stage. ‘In the 1990s the electronic music movement developed its own unique graphic universe inspired by the graphic codes of digital and electronic art - reflected here in the pixellated pattern of the robot,’ says Chastaingt. ‘At Chanel the complexity of fine watchmaking far surpasses the purely technical aspects.’
INFORMATION
chanel.com
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, and written extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys meeting artists and designers, viewing exhibitions and conducting interviews on her frequent travels.
-
The Newt x Niwaki: A gardening uniform inspired by a bucolic British country estate
The Newt in Somerset, a British country estate and hotel, has united with gardening brand Niwaki on tools and clothing inspired by its historic grounds. Here, Niwaki founder Jake Hobson tells Wallpaper* the story behind the thoughtful collaboration
-
A new concrete family house in Slovakia slots seamlessly into its naturally landscaped site
In Slovakia, Banánka family house by Paulíny Hovorka Architects is a generous contemporary sanctuary in the heart of a mature forest
-
‘Wundercar’ celebrates the ineffable aura of the Porsche 959, the first true hypercar
Curated by London creatives INK, ‘Wundercar’ is a London exhibition dedicated to the image and influence of Porsche’s seminal 959, a true icon of 1980s engineering
-
What happens when a Chanel watch becomes a sound machine?
Meet the Chanel Première Sound – an adaptable necklace with a watch and removable earphones
-
Chanel shows its sporting colours with a bold high jewellery collection
Chanel's high jewellery collection is inspired by its founder’s athletic aesthetic
-
Chaumet, Cartier and Chanel up their high jewellery watch game for 2024
In 2024's high jewellery watch designs, performance tech and centuries-old techniques combine to brilliant effect
-
Skeletonised watches are making a dazzling return in 2024
Skeletonised watches return, once again opening up their dials, letting us enjoy mechanical watchmaking at its intricate finest
-
Dark watches show it’s time to embrace an inky palette
Discover new dark watches from brands including Audemars Piguet, Omega, Chanel and Tudor
-
Year in review: top 10 watch and jewellery stories of 2023, as picked by Wallpaper’s Hannah Silver
Silver’s top 10 watch and jewellery stories of 2023 span cool horological collaborations, sculptural forms, and cutlery as bracelets
-
The odd couple: Chanel and Pomellato play with asymmetry in jewellery
Two jewellery houses, Chanel and Pomellato, take a new turn, toying with asymmetry to create organically opulent pieces
-
Chanel unveils new Tweed de Chanel high jewellery
Chanel translates Gabrielle Chanel’s love of tweed into exquisite high jewellery