The black and white of the J12 meets polished silver and the traditions of British rowing. CHANEL unveils the first sporting trophies in its history, created for the winning crews of The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2027. Their debut coincides with the centenary of the Women’s Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge and the House’s third year as the event’s Title Sponsor and Official Timekeeping Partner.
Unveiled at the Presidents’ Challenge on September 30, the two trophies were designed by Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the CHANEL Watch Creation Studio. His approach reinterprets the classic trophy through a pared-back design language, with proportions, contrasts and finishes that reflect the House’s identity.
Frédéric Grangié, President of CHANEL Watches and Fine Jewellery: “Our ambition is to support and safeguard what makes this historic event so exceptional: its traditions, uncompromising standards and the remarkable collective endeavour it celebrates. The creation of these trophies embodies that commitment. Conceived with humility and respect for the heritage of The CHANEL J12 Boat Race, they unite CHANEL’s creative vision in tribute to the athletes whose precision, discipline and teamwork define every edition. We hope they will become enduring symbols of achievement for the crews who raise them, today and for generations to come.”
The polished silver body sits within a rectangular frame: polished white with matte black lines for the Women’s trophy, and polished black with matte black lines for the Men’s. The frame’s edging echoes the contours of the cup, creating a sense of continuity between the two elements. At its centre, a gold-plated silver medallion bordered in black seals the encounter between CHANEL and The Boat Race.
Equal in size, the trophies were also designed with the presentation ceremony in mind: their frames offer a comfortable grip, allowing the athletes to lift them with ease. This attention to function complements the aesthetic vision and echoes the precision of athletic movement.
Bringing the designs to life was Thomas Lyte, the British maker holding a Royal Warrant as Goldsmiths and Silversmiths to His Majesty King Charles III. Development took almost two years and required more than 320 hours of craftsmanship, uniting CHANEL’s creative vision with the tradition of British silversmithing.
Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the CHANEL Watch Creation Studio: “I was humbled and honoured to lead the creation of trophies for the winners of this momentous race. The ambition was to preserve the trophy’s symbolism as a beacon of victory, while reinterpreting and refining it for today. My guiding principle was to illustrate the relationship between CHANEL and The Boat Race through its design, to have CHANEL’s presence felt without overshadowing the significance of either the trophy or the race.”
The winning crews of the 2027 edition will be the first to raise the new trophies. To honour the Women’s Centenary, the order of the races will be reversed: the Men’s race will take place first, followed by the Women’s race, which will close the day’s racing.
It is a tribute to the students who inaugurated the Women’s Boat Race in 1927 under very different conditions. At the time, Oxford and Cambridge were not permitted to compete directly against one another: the crews rowed separately and were judged on style and speed. A century later, the new trophies also celebrate that pioneering legacy and the generations of women who have carried it forward, bringing ambition, discipline and team spirit to the waters of the Thames.
