by Alexandra I. Mas
At CHANEL, where innovation meets heritage, the Astroclock Diamants stands as a singular triumph in haute horlogerie. This exceptional timepiece redefines timekeeping by offering a celestial vision that is both technically impeccable and rich in symbolism. Central to its design is the lion — revered through the ages as a sign of justice, courage, and authority. In this creation, the lion is reinterpreted in a hieratic form, precisely sculpted in 18K white gold and encrusted with 5,037 brilliant-cut diamonds (approximately 119.92 carats). Its imposing silhouette, with a foreleg elegantly resting on an obsidian sphere, epitomises the eternal guardian of time, evoking CHANEL’s own astrological sign. The motif recalls a transformative period in Coco Chanel’s life during her sojourn in Venice, a symbol that reemerged in her inaugural high jewellery collection of 1932, notably in the Constellation du Lion ring. For Chanel, the lion embodies an indomitable spirit that continues to inspire the Maison’s enduring legacy.
“The representation of the lion is truly an integral part of Mademoiselle’s intimate universe,” observes Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of CHANEL’s Watchmaking Creation Studio. “Today, the lion symbol radiates throughout the Maison’s creations and has become one of the iconic codes bequeathed by the designer. It is an inspiring emblem whose authority and elegance I greatly admire.”
“In my eyes, animal sculpture is an art in its own right. From drawing to modelling, the creation of a CHANEL lion emerges, requiring a perfect balance between a rigorous anatomical understanding of the animal and genuine artistic sensitivity,” adds Chastaingt.
This homage to the lion is further expressed in a collection titled LE LION DE MADEMOISELLE, which comprises five timepieces, including the masculine Montre Monsieur Platine Tourbillon Lion and the Astroclock Diamants. Here, exceptional jeweller and watchmaker skills converge to bestow time with a majestic new allure.
A Technical Marvel
The Astroclock Diamants is not merely ornamental; it is a display of sophisticated mechanical prowess. The mechanism is housed within a protective glass sphere, behind which a black, polished rotating disc, marked with precise hour indices, reveals the beating heart of the timepiece. The hour is indicated by a comet-shaped hand in 18K white gold, set with 11 brilliant-cut diamonds (≈0.70 carat), traversing a rotating planetary disc, while minutes are displayed by a lion constellation motif adorned with 9 diamonds (≈1.58 carats). A white gold sphere, paved with 66 diamonds (≈1.53 carats), rotates continuously to signify the passage of time.
Powered by a manually wound mechanical movement with an 8-day power reserve, the Astroclock Diamants is built upon a robust brass framework with a sleek black coating, elegantly trimmed in 18K white gold.
Measuring 34.2 x 20.6 x 17.6 cm, it incorporates a total of 5,123 brilliant-cut diamonds (approximately 123.74 carats).
Created by the esteemed Manufacture Horlogère de CHANEL, the Astroclock Diamants is a harmonious synthesis of symbolic storytelling and advanced engineering. Every element – from the meticulously selected diamonds to the flawless execution of its rotating celestial sphere – has been designed to evoke CHANEL’s signature elegance and innovative spirit. This horological masterpiece invites connoisseurs to pause, reflect, and appreciate the intricate dance of time, illuminated by the resplendent glow of its diamond-studded lion, the ultimate guardian of the celestial hours.
CHANEL Haute Horlogerie
Caratages and materials are indicative only; values are non-contractual.
ASTROCLOCK DIAMONDS
Each diamond corresponds to a specific position. This arrangement is part of a meticulous setting plan defined by Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the CHANEL Watchmaking Creation Studio, which is designed to create the illusion of a random placement while allowing the sculpture to shine through the ligh of the diamonds. The development of this setting plan required four months of dedicated research.
ASTROCLOCK DIAMONDS
Each diamond corresponds to a specific position. This arrangement is part of a meticulous setting plan defined by Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the CHANEL Watchmaking Creation Studio, which is designed to create the illusion of a random placement while allowing the sculpture to shine through the ligh of the diamonds. The development of this setting plan required four months of dedicated research.
ASTROCLOCK DIAMONDS
To create this majestic and elegant movement, the lion is composed of 9 elements. Each was moulded, set and then assembled: 165 hours of goldsmithing were needed to unite all the parts invisibly.
