When talking about great technological innovations and evolutions, it is easy to disregard the ‘humble’ timepiece, or at most, put it at the end of the list. Yet, timepieces have undergone perhaps some of the greatest changes over time and have featured some of the best technological advancements of each period.
What started out as an in-pocket device to tell the time on the go quickly moved on to the more practical wrist piece that can measure speed; say what the day’s date is; act as an alarm or act as a stopwatch; work like a compass; determine what the time is in different time zones; keep track of moon cycles, and, measure how deep you are in water.
Then came mobile phones which over time evolved into smartphones, and suddenly, it seemed like an overkill to carry two devices doing the same thing – with one doing more than the other – everywhere. And so, just as it did hundreds of years ago, the humble timepiece evolved yet again. From increased complications to haute joaillerie pieces, the timekeeping device shed its humility and became one of the ultimate status symbols for discerning customers.
And it is not done if the latest release from Chanel is any indication.
For Chanel, making a time-keeping device has never been enough. It is why its legendary Première Watch was imbued with different iconic elements from the brand, like the timepiece’s case getting its shape from the stopper of the No. 5 perfume bottle, or its flexible bracelet drawing references from the chained shoulder strap of the house’s handbag.
It’s 2024, and Chanel is still a firm believer in the never-ending abilities of the timepiece and has gone ahead to upgrade the Première Watch to the Première Sound Watch, a piece that doubles — or triples if you will – as a long sautoir necklace, a timepiece and a noise-eliminating earphone. Oh, and it also ‘quadruples’ as a bracelet, making it the ultimate modular accessory.
Conceptualised by the director of Chanel’s watchmaking creation studio, Arnaud Chastaing, the Première Sound Watch is an 18-karat gold-coated steel necklace interwoven with black leather that doubles as the audio cable equipped with a built-in 3.5 mm jack that can connect to any smartphone or audio device.
Matching black and gold earphones developed in collaboration with high-end audio company Master & Dynamic, are on the other end of the cable, and they have been engineered to provide high-quality sound and eliminate external noises. They also come with the traditional controls that allow the wearer to play and pause audio, answer and end calls, etc. Being a modular piece, you can choose to take out the earphones and wear the watch necklace alone.
The timepiece itself is a 26 mm steel case affair coated in 18-karat gold and a black lacquered octagonal dial. That same colourway extends to the steel crown, which is coated in gold and set with an onyx cabochon. Powered by a quartz movement, the Première Sound Watch is water-resistant to 30 meters.
We don’t know about you, but while the $16,400 limited-edition timepiece is a creative fusion of tech and luxury fashion, it does not seem like it will be as timeless as the original design. But who knows? Over 300 years ago, it seemed inconceivable that anyone would want a timekeeping device strapped to their wrists. Today, timepieces are worn as chokers, necklaces, and even rings. What is to stop it from doubling as an earpiece?