Chanel to become title sponsor of legendary Boat Race

Chanel will not only be the title sponsor and main partner of the competition scheduled for 13 April 2025, but the official timekeeper of the race that has been held since 1829

The J12 is a legendary watch that was created by the late artistic director of the house, Jacques Hélleu. The minimalistic, all-black ceramic watch was inspired by none other than the silhouettes of J-class sailboats that took part in America’s Cup regattas in the middle of the 20th century. 

In more than two decades, the Chanel J12 watch has been transformed many times: a white version was added, a more feminine variant appeared, an option with a tourbillon, with an automatic Audemars Piguet movement, and even an extra small high jewelry ring. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the J12 watch in 2019 for five days there appeared a pop-up retro-style Chanel yacht club on Long Island in New York, as according to the legend, it was here that Jacques Hélleu drew the first sketches of the legendary watch. 

According to Frédéric Grangié, President of CHANEL Watches & Fine Jewellery, Chanel and one of the world’s oldest boat races  have a lot in common: “We are delighted to sign a strategic partnership with The Boat Race who share the same values of collective endeavour and the pursuit of excellence. It’s an honour to be the first ever official timekeeper in the race’s 195-year history to simultaneously become Title Sponsor and principal Partner. Synchronicity in rowing is as crucial to the race as watchmaking craftsmanship to ensure accurate timing. Every rower, like every mechanism in a watch, must work together as one; the balance, the weight and the oar movements must all be impeccably timed”.