The Allure of the Chanel Camelia Cocktail Watch

Chanel’s Camelia Flower

The camellia was a favorite of Coco Chanel; she famously pinned the white bloom to her belt in 1913 and the flower soon became a motif of the house of Chanel. The camellia flower has no fragrance or thorns, therefore, like Coco herself, symbolizes simplicity and purity.

The camellia flower can be found across Chanel products but none are as alluring as Chanel Camélia cocktail watches. We take a closer look at an exquisite example – the white gold and diamond Chanel Camelia cocktail watch with a concealed dial. 

The History of Cocktail Watches and Secret Dials

As the advent of the wristwatch grew in the early part of the 20th century, in some circles it was considered unfashionable or even improper for women to have a timepiece. The belief was that women of a certain status shouldn’t have to bother with time or schedules. 

However, there were plenty of women who did want to know the time, which paved the way for cocktail watches that looked like jewelry pieces, complete with precious metals and lavish gemstones. Some of these early cocktail watches even had “secret” dials hidden away so women could check the time discreetly. Watchmakers such as Jaeger-LeCoultre, Cartier, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Piaget, and others have stunning examples of vintage secret watches in their archives. These special types of cocktail watches with hidden dials work wonderfully as both bracelets and timepieces. 

While it’s now perfectly acceptable for anyone to wear a wristwatch, many watch brands continue to make secret watches and other types of cocktail watches as a way to display their mastery of both jewelry-making and watchmaking. 

The Chanel Camelia Cocktail Watch, Ref. J 1379

Chanel is one such brand that has a history of making cocktail watches and secret watches. And this white gold and diamond Chanel Camelia cocktail watch fashioned into the silhouette of Coco Chanel’s favorite flower is a gorgeous example.

The Chanel Camelia ref. J 1379 is an 18k white gold quartz watch mounted on a black satin strap. The strap is fitted with an 18k white gold deployant clasp emblazoned with the Chanel name. The watch is also set with 178 round brilliant cut F-G color, VS diamonds totaling approximately 4.15 carats. 

The piece is cleverly designed to incorporate two layers of petals. In one form, it resembles a dazzling gold and diamond high-jewelry bracelet using the famed Chanel camellia flower as its main inspiration. However, the top layer serves as a cover and it can be swiveled to the size to reveal the dial. In contrast to its opulent shell, the dial itself is a simple affair—it contains a pair of hands on a lightly striped silver dial that simply bears the words “CHANEL” and “SWISS.” 

The perfect accessory for formal attire, the Chanel Camelia cocktail watch with a concealed dial displays the time when you need it but hides its secret when you don’t. A striking example of Chanel’s high jewelry craftsmanship with the added benefit of time telling, this rare cocktail watch is simply spectacular.

Gray and Sons is proud to offer this rare Chanel Camelia white gold and diamond cocktail watch with a secret dial for sale. The watch is in excellent pre-owned condition. For inquiries, please reach out to our team of in-house experts.