46 ELLE DECORSTYLE TIMEKEEPERS
E
VEN ICONS CAN BENEFIT FROM SOME
refurbishing: Nearly 20 years after debut-
ing its blockbuster ceramic watch, the J12,
designed by Jacques Helleu and inspired by
the sporty, elegant lines of America’s Cup
yachts, Chanel has released a spiffed-up version.
The case is thicker, its profile is softer, the typeface of
its numerals has been redesigned, and its 12.1-caliber
automatic movement is new and is visible through its
one-piece case, among other tweaks. In celebration of
the updated J12, Chanel has enlisted nine muses for
a campaign, among them Naomi Campbell, Claudia
Schiffer, Lily-Rose Depp, and—speaking of icons—
Ali MacGraw, who returns as a spokesperson for the
French house 54 years after first acting as the face of
Chanel No. 5. chanel.com ◾CLOCKWISE FROM
LEFT: La Pausa,
Gabrielle Chanel’s
villa, perched
in the village of
Roquebrune-Cap-
Martin on the
French Riviera.
Driving the second
hands onto the J12
movement. The
back side of the
J12. Links placed
on a support to be
polished. Actress Ali
MacGraw wearing
the Chanel J12.