FINE ARTS

Chanel Eternal Instant

by Nicholas Foulkes
Thames & Hudson. Jan. 2021. 152p. ISBN 9780500023945. $95. DEC ARTS
COPY ISBN
The Chanel J12 luxury watch was created in 2000 by the then–artistic director of Chanel, Jacques Helleu, who had overseen the production of jewelry, watches, fragrances, and beauty products at the House of Chanel for many years. The innovative J12 was an automatic, all-ceramic watch rendered in black and white, reflecting the spirit and image of the House of Chanel. When the timepiece was reinvented in 2020, the DNA of the original design was retained, with microscopic changes to improve the watch. In the introduction, Foulkes (Bernard Buffet: The Invention of the Modern Mega-Artist) speaks briefly of the watch’s new ceramic technology, which makes it very hard. Although the J12’s history is mentioned, this book is more of a poetic essay extolling the watch. Sleek photographs from publicity campaigns comprise the majority of the book.
VERDICT Given the price of this book, and its narrow focus, this title is recommended primarily for watch aficionados and collectors.
Reviewed by Sandra Rothenberg, Framingham State Univ. Lib., MA , Mar 05, 2021
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