Chanel unveiled its fifth manufacture movement at Watches & Wonders, a hand-wound calibre with a uniquely cut diamond rotating slowly at the centre of a flying tourbillon.
Tourbillons need to be light, so the diamond had to be specially cut into a slim solitaire of 0.18 carats.
That solitaire revolves inside a circle of 48 brilliant cut diamonds at six o’clock on the dial of two versions of the Chanel J12 Diamond Tourbillon.
Both black ceramic models are limited to 55 pieces. One has a back ceramic bezel, the other a white gold bezel set with 34 diamonds totaling 3.5 carats.
The 38mm watches retail for $179,700 with the diamond bezel and $99,800 without.
They both have diamonds set into the hours and minutes hands, and the more expensive piece also has a diamond set into its crown.
