Chanel turns sewing tools into exclusive watches

Chanel presented this Monday within the framework of Haute Couture in Paris a limited edition of five watches that imitate the pincushion of the seamstresses and have embroidered inside the utensils of the “little hands” who make fashion.

It is an exclusive collection with twenty pieces per model created by Arnaud Chastaingt, the director of the firm’s watchmaking studio.

With them, the “maison” also celebrates the reopening of its famous jewelry store in the exclusive Place Vendôme in Paris.

The boutique was closed for a year for renovations and has been renovated with an interior of gold and black walls, an impressive staircase with mother-of-pearl sculptures and a tweed rug.

Among the three floors, a mezzanine has also been built with views of the famous jewelers’ square, which has filled this Fashion Week with the brand’s new watches.

The renovation of the building was carried out by the American architect Peter Marino, specialized in luxury buildings.

Among the five models of the “pique-aiguilles” watch, the French name for the bracelet with a cushion that the seamstresses put on their wrists to carry the needles, the prices vary between 100,000 and 200,000 euros.

The particularity of these 18-carat gold watches is their wide, flat dial, but when viewed in profile, it can be seen that it is domed, like a cushion.

Inside, Chastaingt has included some of the most recognized motifs from the Rue Cambon workshop, where Coco Chanel set up her company.

To mark the time, two small hands with a diamond in the center, while the bottom of the dial is decorated with the pattern of a tweed jacket and a miniature scissors, a golden lace with camellia flowers, the mythical Chanel 2.55 bag with its chain handle and even a diamond embroidery.

An interior work that extols Métiers d’Art, the workshops that Chanel has brought together in recent years to recover and maintain the talent of artisans who do very precise but essential tasks for the “house” and for the reputed “know–faire” French.

A simple, black bracelet completes the design, with the fabric used by the brand in its best-known model of shoes, the “slingback”, two-tone and undercut.

The limited edition was shown during the Haute Joaillerie presentations, in parallel to the Haute Couture catwalk, which takes place in Paris until Thursday.

Source: EFE