An Iconic Timepiece Returns to Its Nautical Origins
Chanel’s J12 campaign for 2026 reunites the legendary watch with its seafaring soul, casting Gisele Bündchen and French model Clément Chabernaud as the faces of a collection that continues to redefine modern luxury.
Launched in 2000, the J12 marked Chanel’s decisive entry into high-end watchmaking. Named for the elite J-class racing yachts, the unisex sports watch is crafted with a case and bracelet in ceramic—a material that is lightweight, scratch-resistant, and seven times harder than steel. Offered in black or white, the J12 owes its singular appeal to the silky softness of the ceramic paired with its extraordinary durability.
“So much more than an icon, J12 is a manifesto of emancipation and audacity: it’s resistant to everything, especially trends,” says Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of Chanel’s Watchmaking Creation Studio.
Chastaingt joined Chanel in 2013 after ten years at Cartier. Since then he has created several defining timepieces for the house—including the Boy-Friend, Code Coco, and Monsieur—alongside annual capsule collections and successive reinterpretations of the J12, a design he describes as one that “challenges the traditional codes of watchmaking.”
The J12’s beating heart is the Caliber 12.1 automatic movement, equipped with a 70-hour power reserve that drives the dial’s hands with metronomic precision. Through the sapphire crystal caseback, the refined mechanics are fully visible: diamond-polished bevels and an openwork oscillating weight.
The 2026 campaign returns the J12 to its aquatic roots. Gisele Bündchen sits on the edge of a sailboat, the face of her watch catching the coastal light, while Clément Chabernaud embodies the same effortless command of the element.
Twenty-six years after its launch, the J12 has matured from bold newcomer to undisputed icon—its latest campaign a fitting testament to that enduring power.
Images Courtesy of CHANEL
В других новостях, касающихся рекламных кампаний бренда, Весенняя рекламная кампания очков Gucci 2026 года демонстрирует смелые дизайнерские решения от Gucci.
