Skip to content
Compare products

Review Women’s luxury watches

Chanel Première review: worth it or skip?

Consider7.8/10 research score

Quick answer

Consider it, if you want jewelry watch. Why: chain bracelet watch. The catch: quartz.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated 1 min read

We research products independently. When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we earn money

Chanel Première

Our verdict on the Chanel Première

Buy it if
you want jewelry watch.
Skip it if
you want daily.
Best for
Chain watch
Key feature
Chain bracelet watch
Typical price
$4,500–$6,000
Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

CaseSteel octagon
MovementQuartz
Water resistance30 m
Power reserveBattery

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

  • you want jewelry watch
  • value iconic
  • can spend around $4,500–$6,000

Skip it if you

  • you want daily
  • mind this: quartz

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Iconic

Cons

  • Quartz

The verdict in one breath

The Chanel Première is a beautiful piece for the right buyer, not an automatic pick. Its strength: chain bracelet watch. Read the skip-if line before you spend.

Reasons to buy

  • Iconic

Reasons to skip

  • Quartz

The details that matter

  • Case: Steel octagon
  • Movement: Quartz
  • Water resistance: 30 m
  • Power reserve: Battery

Worth knowing

Bottle-stopper shape.

Buy it or skip it?

Consider it if you want jewelry watch. Skip it if you want daily; the Cartier Tank Française is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best women’s luxury watches.

Alternatives worth considering

Cartier Tank Française

Cartier · Women’s luxury watches

Cartier Tank Française

Buy it if you want modern Tank.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Bracelet Tank
Typical price
$4,500–$5,500

Pros

  • Elegant

Cons

  • Pricey
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review
Cartier Panthère de Cartier Small

Cartier · Women’s luxury watches

Cartier Panthère de Cartier Small

Buy it if you want a jewelry-like steel watch.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Bracelet icon
Typical price
$4,800–$5,600

Pros

  • Iconic
  • Comfortable

Cons

  • Quartz
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Chanel Première?

Consider it, if you want jewelry watch. Why: chain bracelet watch. The catch: quartz.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want daily. The Cartier Tank Française is the better buy then.

What does the Chanel Première cost?

Usually $4,500–$6,000 in the US. Luxury houses raise prices often, so check the current price before you buy.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Chanel Première: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Chanel Première worth the money? Short answer: consider it, if you want jewelry watch. This review explains what this Chanel piece gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs and which women’s luxury watch to buy instead if it is not right for you.

What the Chanel Première does well

The headline: chain bracelet watch. The details: Case: Steel octagon; Movement: Quartz; Water resistance: 30 m; Power reserve: Battery. In our list it is the pick for: chain watch. It usually sells for $4,500–$6,000 in the US.

Bottle-stopper shape.

The trade-offs

Good: iconic. Not so good: quartz. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want daily.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Cartier Tank Française ($4,500–$5,500): tank on integrated bracelet. Better if you want modern Tank.

Instead, consider the Cartier Panthère de Cartier Small ($4,800–$5,600): supple steel bracelet watch. Better if you want a jewelry-like steel watch.

Instead, consider the Cartier Tank Must Large ($3,500–$4,000): tank Must large. Better if you want bigger.

Before you buy

Movement: quartz is accurate and low-maintenance for a watch you wear now and then; automatic suits daily wear. Size: 25 to 36 mm is classic for most wrists; small diamonds and bracelets change the feel more than size. Metal: steel is the best value; gold and diamond versions can cost several times more.

Buyer tip

Steel Cartier, Rolex and Omega watches hold value well; gold and gem-set fashion-house watches resell at a big discount.

Buying in Europe: authorized-dealer prices for Swiss watches are set per country and include VAT; a watch bought in Switzerland or the EU carries the same international warranty as one bought in the US. Grey-market and pre-owned prices are often quoted in euros or Swiss francs.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.