Chanel's J12 Chromatic moves on from black and white with a high-tech ceramic version in a silver grey tone. Titanium ceramic adds a new dimension to this high-tech material and the result is a highly polished steely look with all the benefits of this lightweight, scratch-resistant super-material. The handsome J12 that first took wrists by storm over ten years ago now comes in a sleek new guise: titanium ceramic. The addition of titanium to the ceramic recipe produces a cloudy-sky grey hue that once polished with diamond powder develops an attractive sheen that catches the light. But unlike its more humble cousin steel, ceramic is warm to the touch, light and scratch proof. Ceramic is increasingly present in the watch industry following Rado's pioneering use of the material when in 1986 the firm's scientist discovered a new substance for the watch industry. Previously the material was valuable to the F1 motor racing world and used as heat shields on space shuttles. For all its user-friendly characteristic, producing high-tech ceramic in colours other than black or white has proved a challenge for the watch industry where aesthetics are paramount. This is why the arrival of the J12 Chromatic in a new variant of high-tech ceramic is so significant. While Panerai, the Italian heritage watch house, has been experimenting with an aluminium composite ceramic that has a pleasant brown hue, its use is limited to just two watch models. Chanel however is betting on this new material by launching not just one new watch but seven new models for both men and women. From smaller 33 mm quartz versions, some with or without diamonds and larger automatic and chronograph models, the J12 Chromatic take Chanel's iconic watch into a new era.
