CHANEL J12 is the Official Timekeeping Partner and Title Sponsor of The Boat Race, aligning a historic sporting event with a watchmaking icon defined by precision and performance. In a race where victory depends on flawless timing, such mastery is as vital to the crew on the water as it is to the artisans behind the J12, a watch inspired by the world of competitive sailing.
Excellence through precision and collective effort
At the heart of The Boat Race lies perfect coordination: eight athletes and a coxswain move in absolute synchrony, where every second counts. This collective rhythm closely echoes the philosophy behind the CHANEL J12 where meticulous craftsmanship, mechanical precision and teamwork within the Manufacture in Switzerland come together to create lasting performance.
Shared values, lasting impact
The partnership between The Boat Race and CHANEL J12 is founded on a shared pursuit of excellence, synchronicity and precision. Both honour heritage, while championing sustainability, community and women’s engagement, showing that true excellence is measured not just in seconds or strokes, but in shared ambition and lasting impact.
THE NEW J12 BOAT RACE TROPHIES
Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the CHANEL Watch Creation Studio, has designed the two Boat Race trophies for the first time, crafted within the prestigious British workshops of Thomas Lyte, a Royal Warrant holder as goldsmiths and silversmiths to His Majesty King Charles III.
Created to mark the Centenary of the women’s rowing race, these pieces, equal in size, draw inspiration from the emblematic codes of the J12 watch: a white frame highlights the women’s crew trophy, while a black frame accentuates the men’s crew trophy, creating a harmonious interplay of contrasts between materials and volumes.
More than symbols of victory, these trophies embody the values of sportsmanship and fairness so dear to CHANEL.
