1. WHERE CAN I BUY CHANEL WATCHES?
2. SINCE WHEN HAS CHANEL BEEN MAKING WATCHES?
3. ARE CHANEL WATCHES "SWISS-MADE" AND WHERE ARE THEY MANUFACTURED?
4. WHERE DO THE MOVEMENTS USED IN CHANEL WATCHES COME FROM?
5. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A QUARTZ MOVEMENT AND A SELF-WINDING MECHANICAL MOVEMENT?
6. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HIGH-TECH CERAMIC USED IN CHANEL WATCHES?
7. HOW MANY YEARS DID IT TAKE TO CREATE TITANIUM CERAMIC?
8. WHAT ARE THE PROPERTIES OF TITANIUM CERAMIC?
9. WHAT DIAMONDS DOES CHANEL USE?
10. HOW CAN I LOOK AFTER MY CHANEL WATCH?
11. ARE CHANEL WATCHES WATER-RESISTANT?
12. WHERE CAN I HAVE MY CHANEL WATCH REPAIRED?
13. ARE CHANEL WATCHES GUARANTEED? HOW LONG IS THE GUARANTEE AND WHAT DAMAGE IS COVERED?
14. What effects do magnetic fields have on watch movements? How can these effects be detected and what solutions can be used to remedy them?
1. WHERE CAN I BUY CHANEL WATCHES?
CHANEL watches are available at our CHANEL boutiques and a limited number of independent watch and jewelry retailers.
To find the retailers nearest you, please visit our store locator.
2. SINCE WHEN HAS CHANEL BEEN MAKING WATCHES?
Gabrielle Chanel loved to mix up genres and applications, toying with the values expressed by her creations. This innovative approach to art gave rise to cult objects which were to become legendary, such as N°5 perfume and the 2.55 bag. Première watches (first created in 1987) and J12 (created in 2000) reflect the same artistic philosophy.
3. ARE CHANEL WATCHES "SWISS-MADE" AND WHERE ARE THEY MANUFACTURED?
CHANEL watches are made in Switzerland, in CHANEL's 8,000 m² workshops in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
There, the creative spark is transformed into innovative products, thanks to the latest digital machines and tools, combined with traditional watchmaking know-how.
This assures the totality of the operations, from assembling the watchcases and the bracelets to the casing of the movements produced by specialized Swiss companies. The manufacturing of high-tech ceramic is also integrated into our production process, but is kept secret so as to protect the uniqueness of CHANEL watches.
4. WHERE DO THE MOVEMENTS USED IN CHANEL WATCHES COME FROM?
All CHANEL watches feature highly precise Swiss movements and are assembled in the CHANEL workshops in La Chaux-de-Fonds. CHANEL offers mechanisms with varying levels of sophistication. CHANEL's partners include the Manufacture ETA, whose movements are among the most reliable in all Swiss watchmaking.
CHANEL also works with prestigious Swiss Manufacturers to develop new movements :
- The CHANEL RMT-10 movement, exclusively designed for CHANEL by Renaud et Papi Manufacture (APRP SA).
- The AUDEMARS PIGUET self-winding movement, exclusively personalized for CHANEL: CHANEL – AP 3125.
5. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A QUARTZ MOVEMENT AND A SELF-WINDING MECHANICAL MOVEMENT?
QUARTZ MOVEMENT
The energy for a quartz watch is supplied by a miniature battery that lasts for several years. Time is marked by a quartz oscillator that causes a vibration with the energy supplied by the battery. The average battery life for J12 quartz watches is 3-4 years depending on the model, and 2 years for other collections.
Never leave an expired battery in your watch. It could leak and damage the movement.
AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL WATCHES
A watch with an automatic mechanical movement winds itself with the movement of the wrist, which causes the oscillating mass to turn on its axis. When the watch is not worn, it has a 42-hour power reserve. Beyond this autonomous period, manual winding becomes necessary. When the watch has stopped, it is recommended that you wind your watch manually every two to three weeks to prevent internal lubricants from drying out.
For optimal precision and reliability we recommend that you avoid :
- magnetic fields (magnets, loudspeakers etc.)
- high impacts (manual work, extreme sports, etc.)
The watch must be perfectly adjusted to your wrist. A poorly fitting bracelet results in the loss of the watch's autonomy (self-winding capacity).
6. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HIGH-TECH CERAMIC USED IN CHANEL WATCHES?
CHANEL has mastered the savoir-faire in the use of high-tech ceramic.
Made of zirconium dioxide power and yttrium, high-tech ceramic has exceptional properties :
- Highly resistant to scratches. The hardness index of high-tech ceramic is 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale, while that of diamond is 10. Only diamonds can therefore be used to fashion, sculpt and polish each component.
- Non-oxidizing
- Inert to chemical agents
- Elevated refraction index. A unique brilliance enhanced by diamond powder polishing.
From intense black to immaculate white, high-tech ceramic has been transformed into a precious material, revolutionizing the rules of watchmaking.
7. HOW MANY YEARS DID IT TAKE TO CREATE TITANIUM CERAMIC?
It took 4 years of research and development to create titanium ceramic.
The titanium ceramic formula used by CHANEL is patented and exclusive to the brand. The manufacturing and polishing techniques, kept secret in the workshops in Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, are what make J12 Chromatic a true technological innovation.
8. WHAT ARE THE PROPERTIES OF TITANIUM CERAMIC?
Titanium ceramic is a new material that is highly scratch-resistant and has a hardness close to that of sapphire. Its unique color and sparkle are obtained by adding titanium to ceramic and then polishing with diamond powder.
9. WHAT DIAMONDS DOES CHANEL USE?
In a constant quest for perfection, CHANEL uses exceptional diamonds which meet all the diamond quality criteria denoted by the "4C" label. An infinite number of combinations are possible, making each diamond a unique stone:
Clarity
The clarity of a diamond is determined by the number and the size of visible inclusions in the stone.
Color
Ideal diamonds are generally distinguished by the absence of color. Thus the more colorless a diamond is, the rarer and more precious it is.
An international standard attributes the letter "D" to totally colorless diamonds, with the remaining letters used to measure tints appearing in the stone.
Cut
The cut is the element which enhances a diamond's qualities, thus revealing its incomparable brilliance. Excellent proportions combined with perfectly symmetrical facets enable light to be captured and to reveal the carefully selected stone's true brilliance.
Carat (Weight)
The word "carat" refers to the seeds of the carob tree, used in Antiquity to measure the weight of a diamond, and has been the international standard unit of measurement since 1907. A carat is equivalent to 0.20 grams.
CHANEL encourages respect for strict ethical standards in terms of sourcing. Each diamond set in a CHANEL watch comes from legal sources, in full compliance with the certification system of the Kimberley Process, as defined by the United Nations. Under the guarantee system instituted by this process, each partner undertakes to provide a certificate attesting in writing that the diamonds are sourced from non-conflict countries. This particular vigilance helps ensure the credibility of the diamond trade, eradicating the circulation of stones from countries in situations of armed conflict.
Exclusions:
- Damage caused by accidents or by misuse of the watch (violent shock, crushing, rough handling of the clasp, etc.)
- Damage caused by repair or disassembly not carried out by a CHANEL Boutique, an authorized CHANEL jewelry and timepiece distributor or an authorized CHANEL watch workshop.
- The consequences of normal use and aging of the watch. It also excludes the leather straps and the batteries, given the specific nature of these items. Your statutory rights are not affected.
IMPORTANT: To benefit from the CHANEL International Guarantee, all work must imperatively be carried out by an authorized specialist: CHANEL Boutiques, authorized CHANEL jewelry and timepiece distributors, or authorized CHANEL watch workshops. This guarantee only becomes applicable on presentation of the CHANEL International Guarantee Certificate, duly completed, dated and signed by an authorized CHANEL distributor.
10. HOW CAN I LOOK AFTER MY CHANEL WATCH?
The unique know-how of CHANEL Watches guarantees products of exceptional quality. However, to ensure optimal reliability and life span of your watch, a complete servicing is recommended every 4 to 5 years.
11. ARE CHANEL WATCHES WATER-RESISTANT?
CHANEL watches are water-resistant in depths between 30 and 300 meters. The water-resistance is engraved on the back of the watch case as follows: 30 M.
Watches are water-resistant due to their joints. To ensure continuous water-resistance, it is recommended that gaskets be replaced every two years from the date of first use. It is also recommended that the water-resistance be checked each time the watch case is opened and each year if the watch is often subjected to water immersion (-- shower, seawater, swimming pools).
For watches with a screw crown, be sure the crown is completely screwed in before entering water. Never manipulate the crown underwater. If the crown is pulled out, water can seep into the case. If condensation forms inside the watch, water has entered it. The watch must be checked immediately.
For chronograph watches, do not start the chronograph function underwater because water can seep in through the push pieces.
Avoid wearing watches in saunas, showers and baths, as the high temperature can cause deterioration of the gaskets.
After each immersion in saltwater, rinse the watch with fresh water. To ensure water-resistance, be sure to screw the crown in after each manipulation.
12. WHERE CAN I HAVE MY CHANEL WATCH REPAIRED?
All work on your watch must be carried out exclusively at a CHANEL watch workshop or a CHANEL-authorized watch workshop.
Trained CHANEL repair specialists provide impeccable service by conducting a series of tests and using the most reliable and advanced control systems. CHANEL watches benefit from an international network of after sales service providers, who meet the strictest Swiss watchmaking quality standards.
Any service or repair not carried out by a CHANEL watch workshop or CHANEL-authorized watch workshop exposes your watch to the risk of serious damage that is not covered by the CHANEL International Guarantee. Likewise, replacement parts that do not correspond to the criteria specified by CHANEL are not covered by the CHANEL International Guarantee. For all work carried out on your watch while it is under guarantee, you must present your CHANEL guarantee card.
13. ARE CHANEL WATCHES GUARANTEED? HOW LONG IS THE GUARANTEE AND WHAT DAMAGE IS COVERED?
CHANEL watches have successfully passed the most rigorous reliability tests devised by the Swiss watchmaking industry, guaranteed against all manufacturing defects for two years from the date of purchase marked by the CHANEL-authorized retailer on the International Guarantee Certificate. This guarantee includes parts and labor.
14. What effects do magnetic fields have on watch movements? How can these effects be detected and what solutions can be used to remedy them?
Depending on the strength of the magnetic field concerned or the length of the exposure, the normal working of a watch movement may be affected. Despite the sophisticated systems with which they are equipped, watches with automatic movements are more sensitive to all types of magnetic fields.
WATCHES WITH AUTOMATIC MOVEMENTS
A powerful magnetic field may cause the acceleration of the sprung balance, which modifies significantly the setting of the movement. For example, the magnetic fields emitted by electrical appliances (e.g., televisions, some cellphones), by magnets or by the passenger scanning machines found at airports, may interfere with watch movements.
WATCHES WITH QUARTZ MOVEMENTS
A powerful magnetic field may alter the frequency of oscillation of the quartz, causing the movement to lose time or to stop completely.
To detect if the watch is magnetized, just place it next to a compass. If it is magnetized, the needle of the compass will be deflected.
In order to demagnetize the watch, it must be subjected to a magnetic field operating in the opposite direction. All our after-sales service points are equipped with a device that can generate this type of field.
