Superleggera -

Chanel has muscled-up its ever-popular J12, but has still managed to lose weight. By incorporating anodized aluminium into the watch’s caseback, crown and pushbuttons, it is 20% lighter than the original J12 and duly earns the right to bear the ‘Superleggera’ emblem. This exclusively masculine model takes its name and logo from the ultra-light car bodies created by the Automobile Touring Club of Italy in the 1950s. It is the brainchild of Jacques Helleu – Artistic Director of Chanel – who, as a schoolboy, was fascinated by the performance cars being tuned at a local mechanics’, some of which bore the ‘Superleggera’ signature. Chanel’s watch uses especially pale aluminium, which contrasts with the remaining black ceramic to a striking ‘two-tone’ effect.