Ceramic, and still a little bit rock and roll
By Priya Nair, Singapore ·
I remember when the J12 first appeared in 2000 and everyone assumed it was a fad. A black ceramic sports watch from a fashion house? It's still here, and it's still the watch I'd hand to someone who thinks Chanel only makes handbags.
The 38 mm version is black high-tech ceramic, 12.6 mm thick, with a rotating bezel and 200 m of water resistance, more than any other watch on my list. Tom would probably tell you a ceramic bezel and a chunky clasp make it a desk diver at heart, and he'd be right, but it's a very chic desk. Since the 2019 update, the movement is the Calibre 12.1 with 70 hours, made with Kenissi, which also makes movements for Tudor. That's a far more serious engine than the early quartz versions.
The ceramic is light and won't scratch, and in Singapore's humidity it never feels sticky the way steel can. But drop it on a marble floor and it can crack or chip, which steel would just shrug off. And 12.6 mm is tall; you'll feel it against a fitted sleeve.
At 7,350 to 8,000 dollars it's priced close to a Santos Medium. The Santos is the better long-term hold. The J12 is more fun on a Friday night.