Having launched the Première Édition Originale two years ago, a bestseller modelled on the No. 5 perfume bottle, Chanel has now extended the concept, literally, with the Première Sound Watch. It’s a necklace watch, or a montre sautoir, with a pair of wired earphones, or more specifically in-ear monitors (IEMs), that loop through the links of the chain.

Initial thoughts

Chanel is now a proper watchmaker with an expansive manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds (where the Monsieur is produced) and a stake in movement maker Kenissi, but it’s primarily a luxury fashion house that derives majority of its revenue from cosmetics and fashion. The Première Sound is very much a fashion watch – and an expensive one at that – but a logical creation that is both useful and instantly recognisable as Chanel.

As an aside, the fact that the Première necklace watch is delivered with a pair of wired earphones, instead of wireless earbuds, is low tech but practical since it does away with flaky rechargeable batteries, which will inevitably extend its useful life. Importantly, the earphone cable loops into the necklace and is removable, meaning the Première Sound can revert to just being a necklace watch.

Jennie of Korean girl group Blackpink with the Premiere Sound

A bottle stopper watch

Introduced in 1987, the Première is Chanel’s longest-lived bestseller. Its case is modelled on the cap of the No. 5 perfume bottle, itself inspired by the shape of the Place Vendôme, the square in Paris where luxury jewellers and brands congregate.

In its original form, the Première was a no-frills watch, a quartz movement inside an elongated octagon case of gold-plated steel. In 2022, Chanel revived the model with the Première Édition Originale that features a chain-link bracelet interwoven with black leather, just like the should strap of Chanel’s handbags.

The Première Sound is essentially the same thing, but with a much longer link bracelet that transforms it into a necklace. Looping through the chain necklace, the IEMs are rendered in the same black and gold livery, with each featuring a tiny, sapphire-covered Chanel emblem.

The cable incorporates a remote that controls the music and phone functions. The tech is old school: the cable ends in a 3.5 mm jack. It’s also delivered with a pair of adapters that allow it to connect to Lightning or USB-C ports.

Key facts and price

Chanel Première Sound Watch
Ref. H10166

Diameter: 20 mm
Height: 7.65 mm
Crystal: Unknown
Material: Gold-plated steel
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: Quartz
Features: Hours, minutes, and removable headphones

Attachment: Gold-plated steel necklace chain interwoven with leather and audio cable

Accessories: Remote on cable for audio and phone functions, and adapters for Lightning and USB-C ports

Limited edition: No
Availability: From September 2 at Chanel boutiques
Price: 21,450 Singapore dollars including GST (equivalent to about US$16,000)

For more, visit chanel.com.