How can a simple pincushion become a design element in watchmaking? The answer comes from the Chanel universe, where even an everyday object can take on symbolic meanings and become a precious decoration that evokes the world and style of Mademoiselle Coco. Because in her workshop on Rue Cambon in Paris, Gabrielle Chanel always had at hand a pincushion, a very useful tool for a seamstress, kept fastened to her wrist, along with a pair of scissors hanging from a ribbon that she wore around her neck as a sautoir.
And it is a pincushion that Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the Chanel Watchmaking Creation Studio, had in mind when designing the Mademoiselle Privé Pique-Aiguilles watches: "I like the image of this functional piece of jewellery adorning the wrists of seamstresses. This essential tailoring accessory generally takes the form of a metal bracelet surmounted by a generously sized dome-shaped cushion".
To translate a pincushion into a watch, Chastaingt has developed an oversized dial housed in a yellow gold and diamond case 55 mm in diameter, fastened to the wrist by means of a thin black mat grosgrain strap. The simple, linear architecture, a reference to the everyday object from which the watch is inspired, is contrasted by the opulence of the decorations that make it a real jewel.
In fact, there are five different interpretations of the dials, more or less precious, which, like a blank canvas, leave room for the creativity of the Métiers d'art to represent the symbols of Chanel's stylistic vocabulary: a lace of camellias, a composition of iconic bags, jewellery scattered on black tweed, a diamond embroidery and a jacket in the pattern-making phase.
Each model is made in a limited edition of 20 and is fitted with a quartz movement.
Pricesfrom 175,000 to 250,000 euro.
