Chanel J12-G.10: Pulling the right “G” strings

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Chanel has transformed the G10 or NATO strap and brought it upmarket with its super-luxury alligator skin version on its J12.G10 watches. Photo: © Chanel

Chanel has transformed the G10 or NATO strap and brought it upmarket with its super-luxury alligator skin version on its J12.G10 watches. Photo: © Chanel

The “NATO strap” generally refers to the wristband for watches that is made of reinforced nylon or strong fabrics. It originated as a military issue watch strap that secured the watch to the wrist even in the event of a broken or dislodged spring bar. [Reference: TimeWerke Volume XI, pages 267 to 272.]

Military personnel would refer to it as either the “NATO” or “G10”. This is because of the strap’s NATO stock numbers or NSN. The “G10” is actually the requisition form, said to be the G1098 and it is used for ordering items, including the strap.

The 42mm Chanel J12-G.10, introduced in 2014, powered by an automatic movement, features its luxury “NATO strap” – a Black Mississippiensis alligator strap with 18K white gold loops, each set with 7 baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 0.93 carats per loop) and an 18K white gold pin buckle set with 27 baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 2.55 carats). The 18K white gold dial is set with 84 baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 2.52 carats) and 12 baguette-cut black ceramic indicators, has a black high-tech ceramic centre and 18K white gold hands. The crown in 18K white gold is set with 1 brilliant-cut diamond (approx. 0.15 carats) and the case has 78 baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 4.95 carats). Limited to 5 pieces. Photo: © Chanel

The 42mm Chanel J12-G.10, introduced in 2014, powered by an automatic movement, features its luxury “NATO strap” – a Black Mississippiensis alligator strap with 18K white gold loops, each set with 7 baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 0.93 carats per loop) and an 18K white gold pin buckle set with 27 baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 2.55 carats). The 18K white gold dial is set with 84 baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 2.52 carats) and 12 baguette-cut black ceramic indicators, has a black high-tech ceramic centre and 18K white gold hands. The crown in 18K white gold is set with 1 brilliant-cut diamond (approx. 0.15 carats) and the case has 78 baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 4.95 carats). Limited to 5 pieces. Photo: © Chanel

Inspired by the NATO strap, Chanel has created a high luxury wristband with its J12-G.10 watches (the “G.10” coming from the “G10” requisition form). These timepieces, available in both mechanical (automatic) and quartz versions, come with straps made of alligator skins with large scales rather than nylon. Moreover, the buckle or loops are set with brilliant-cut and baguette-cut diamonds.

The 33mm Chanel J12-G.10 quartz version features a black Missiissippiensis alligator strap with its loops set with 9 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.15 carats per loop) and a steel pin buckle set with 17 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.27 carats). The steel bezel is set with 53 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.96 carats). Photo: © Chanel

The 33mm Chanel J12-G.10 quartz version features a black Missiissippiensis alligator strap with its loops set with 9 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.15 carats per loop) and a steel pin buckle set with 17 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.27 carats). The steel bezel is set with 53 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.96 carats). Photo: © Chanel

The military-grade NATO strap or G10 now has an upmarket variant thanks to Chanel, which if we may politely add, has pulled all the right “G” strings (or should we say “straps”?) with such a luxuriant execution.

RJ-Romain Jerome H9C-DNA: Biker watch

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This is the customised 1943 WLC Harley-Davidson showcased by RJ-Romain Jerome at the annual BaselWorld watch fair in 2014. This motorbike was customised by Hardnine Choppers (owned by Danny Schneider) and was sold together with the RJ-Romain Jerome H9C-DNA wristwatch. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. BaselWorld 2014

This is the customised 1943 WLC Harley-Davidson showcased by RJ-Romain Jerome at the annual BaselWorld watch fair in 2014. This motorbike was customised by Hardnine Choppers (owned by Danny Schneider) and was sold together with the RJ-Romain Jerome H9C-DNA wristwatch. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. BaselWorld 2014

At the annual BaselWorld watch fair in 2014, RJ-Romain Jerome put the spotlight on a very special motorbike that was customised by Hardnine Choppers. Founded and owned by Danny Schneider, Hardnine Choppers is a specialist garage based in Switzerland that customises motorbikes.

The motorbike on display at the RJ-Romain Jerome booth was the 1943 WLC Harley-Davidson 750cc which was previously owned by the Canadian Army. Back in 1943, the Canadian Army had ordered 20,000 of such bikes for military use.

The customised Harley-Davidson bike required six months of work by Hardnine Choppers and the activities included the manual reshaping of the fenders, gas and oil tanks, the front fork, the exhaust pipe and the reconditioning of the original motor, among other things.

The bike was then hand-painted in a metal purple flake colour with hand-drawn pinstripes highlights on both sides of the gas tank, fenders and front fork.

Moreover, the steering column features South Park’s “Cartman” figurine to manually change the gears of the bike and the “Slayer” hard rock group name is cut out on the grip of the right footstool.

Other decorative features are the hand-painted “L.A.” lettering and the number “9” on parts of the motor that are visible.

This unique customised 1943 WLC Harley-Davidson is paired with RJ-Romaine Jerome’s H9C-DNA watch and is sold together as a set.

RJ-Romain Jerome H9C-DNA wristwatch featuring the skull painted in purple/ metal flake colour. It comes with a black “guidoline” calf strap with black PVD-coated satin-finished pin buckle. This pièce unique watch was sold together with the 1943 WLC Harley-Davidson bike customised by Hardnine Choppers. Retail price of the watch and motorbike: CHF110,000. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. 2014 BaselWorld

RJ-Romain Jerome H9C-DNA wristwatch featuring the skull painted in purple/ metal flake colour. It comes with a black “guidoline” calf strap with black PVD-coated satin-finished pin buckle. This pièce unique watch was sold together with the 1943 WLC Harley-Davidson bike customised by Hardnine Choppers. Retail price of the watch and motorbike: CHF110,000. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. 2014 BaselWorld

The RJ-Romain Jerome H9C-DNA watch with a red gold bezel and black PVD-coated steel case has a complex five-layered skeleton movement highlighting “the angled bridges recalling the intricate structure of a V-Twin motor”.

What is most striking is the skeletonised skull applied on the dial and hand-painted in purple metal flake colour complimenting the customised WLC Harley-Davidson bike. The barrel can be seen through the skull logo and the balance is beneath its teeth.

The RJ-Romain Jerome H9C-DNA wristwatch comes with a perforated “guidoline” leather strap, a material inspired by the bike’s custom-made handlebars.

Hardnine Choppers founder and owner Danny Schneider on the customised 1943 WLC Harley-Davidson. Photo: © Stéphane Schmutz / STEMUTZ.COM

Hardnine Choppers founder and owner Danny Schneider on the customised 1943 WLC Harley-Davidson. Photo: © Stéphane Schmutz / STEMUTZ.COM

At its launch in Basel in March 2014, the WLC Harley-Davidson motorbike and RJ-Romain Jerome H9C-DNA watch set had already been sold.

However, for hard-core bikers into watch collecting, RJ-Romain Jerome has also produced nine H9C-DNA timepieces known as Speed Metal with the mirror-polished H9C skull on the dial. These are offered for sale on their own.