Designed by Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the CHANEL Watch Creation Studio and brought to life by Thomas Lyte, the J12 Boat Race trophies called upon the full breadth of expertise within our London workshops.
Handcrafted in sterling silver, the trophies unite traditional goldsmithing and silversmithing with modern technology and technical precision. Every stage of their creation was carefully considered to realise CHANEL’s distinctive design while preserving the strength, form and finish of the completed pieces.
The result is one men’s and one women’s trophy in which precious metal, ceramic-coated aluminium and gold-plated silver come together within a single, precisely considered composition.
In 2025, CHANEL commissioned Thomas Lyte to create the trophies for the CHANEL J12 Boat Race, marking the Centenary of the first Women’s Race in 1927 and the first sporting trophies ever created by CHANEL. Ahead of the 2027 Presidents’ Challenge, Thomas Lyte was entrusted with bringing the distinctive trophy concept to life in sterling silver.
At the centre of each trophy is a classically designed silver cup, reflecting the traditions and heritage of Oxford and Cambridge rowing. Encasing the cup is a bold, contemporary ceramic-coated aluminium frame, bringing a distinct CHANEL perspective to the design.
One trophy was created for the men’s competition and one for the women’s, with contrasting black and white finishes inspired by the signature ceramic colours of the iconic CHANEL J12 watch.
The commission brought together two complementary forms of expertise: CHANEL’s distinctive design language and Thomas Lyte’s experience in translating ambitious creative concepts into exceptional sporting silverware.
As holders of a Royal Warrant as goldsmiths and silversmiths to His Majesty King Charles III, Thomas Lyte brought nearly two decades of experience in designing and handcrafting bespoke silverware from our London workshops to this commission.
The creation of the trophies drew upon a remarkable breadth of expertise. Spinning, casting, filing, cutting, soldering, CNC milling, ceramic coating, polishing, plating and engraving were brought together within a carefully controlled sequence, combining skills practised by hand with modern technology and exacting precision.
Each trophy was first fully formed and completed in sterling silver, with the surfaces, handles, base and silhouette crafted as a unified structure. The completed silver form then had to be cut vertically in half with millimetre precision to allow the central ceramic-coated aluminium frame to be introduced.
This presented a significant structural challenge. Once the silver form had been cut, its integrity had to be maintained while the two halves were separated and reassembled around the frame. Thomas Lyte developed specialist methods and tools to make this possible, including the use of small cameras to work within and inspect the interior of the trophy. An internal structure was also engineered to support the silver during the process and ensure that the finished trophy retained its strength, form and precise alignment.
The two halves were then carefully secured around the frame, joining at the finial, handles and base to create a single integrated structure. The process brought together traditional silversmithing, specialist engineering and modern technology, with every stage carefully controlled to preserve the integrity and finish of the completed trophies.
Imagined by Arnaud Chastaingt, Director of the CHANEL Watch Creation Studio, the design introduces the distinctive character of the J12 into the world of sporting silverware.
At the centre of each trophy is a bold rectangular frame that contains the silhouette of the cup. The ceramic-coated aluminium structure follows the contours of the silver form, creating a clean, graphic outline and a striking contrast between precious metal and ceramic.
The women’s trophy features a polished white finish with matte black lines, while the men’s trophy is polished black with matte black lines. Together, the contrasting finishes echo the iconic black and white palette of the J12.
The silver silhouette is connected to the frame at four key points: the finial, the two handles and the base. These carefully considered connections bring the materials together within a single integrated structure, while allowing the trophies to be lifted and handled comfortably during the moment of presentation.
At the centre of each silhouette sits a gold-plated silver medallion bordered in black. The medallion celebrates the connection between CHANEL and The Boat Race, while creating a focal point for the achievement of the winning crews.
The frame is at once visual, structural and practical. It defines the silhouette, follows the contours of the cup and gives the familiar language of sporting silverware a bold and contemporary character.
The plinths of the trophies create a permanent record of the illustrious history of The Boat Race.
The men’s and women’s plinths record the winners of each year’s race, together with the lengths by which their victories were achieved. Each new inscription becomes part of the continuing story of the competition, connecting future winning crews with generations of sporting achievement.
On the reverse, the trophies carry an engraving of the Royal Arms of His Majesty King Charles III. This reflects Thomas Lyte’s status as holders of a Royal Warrant as goldsmiths and silversmiths to His Majesty the King and the tradition of British craftsmanship represented within the finished trophies.
The CHANEL J12 Boat Race continues the story of one of the world’s most recognisable sporting traditions.
The men’s crews of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge have contested The Boat Race since 1829. The Women’s Boat Race followed, with its first official contest taking place in 1927.
Today, both races are held on the same iconic stretch of the River Thames, bringing together generations of sporting history, competition and tradition.
CHANEL J12 became Title Sponsors of the Boat Race, connecting the House’s J12 watch with a sporting event defined by precision, performance and the pursuit of excellence.
Discover more here: https://www.chanel.com/gb/watches/chanel-j12-boat-race/
The Presidents’ Challenge generally takes place from late September to early October.
At this formal annual event, the losing crew from the previous year’s race challenges the winning opponent to a new contest on the water, renewing the historic rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge.
The new J12 Boat Race trophies were unveiled to the world on 30 September 2026 at Somerset House as part of the event. Their unveiling introduced a distinctive new symbol for the competition and marked the first time CHANEL and Thomas Lyte had come together to present their shared work and skill to a global audience.
Inspired by the racing yachts, the J12 was created by CHANEL as a sports watch that transcends horizons. Since its creation, its distinctive silhouette has evolved but has still preserved its original character.
Defined by clean, precise lines and highly resistant ceramic, the J12 has become an icon of contemporary watchmaking. The watch is available in blue, black and white ceramic, with the latter two colours being carried into the design process of the trophies.
The J12 brings together aesthetic design and technical expertise. The ceramic is developed through a highly controlled process involving formulation, high-temperature sintering, finishing and polishing.
This same relationship between design, materials and precision is reflected in the J12 Boat Race trophies handcrafted by Thomas Lyte.
Discover more here: https://www.chanel.com/gb/watches/the-j12-watch/
The J12 Boat Race trophies join a distinguished portfolio of sporting silverware designed and handcrafted by Thomas Lyte for some of the world’s most recognised competitions.
This longstanding body of work includes the Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup and the Nitto ATP World Singles trophy.
Although each commission carries its own identity and meaning, all are united by the belief that the object presented at the defining moment of victory should be worthy of the achievement it represents.
Our team make the conceivable possible, while preserving traditional skills, pioneering modern methods, and promoting authentic British craft across the globe. Combining the latest technologies with centuries of knowledge, Thomas Lyte’s silver workshops in London, England house world-class facilities for an elite team of designers and makers, masters of their craft. Learn about 3D printing, electroforming and other new technologies that our team have introduced to our sustainable handcrafting process.
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Materials. Sterling Silver, Aluminium, Ceramic Coating + 24 Carat Gold Plate
Workshop Processes. Spinning, Casting, Filing, Cutting, Soldering, CNC Milling, Ceramic Coating, Polishing, Plating, and Engraving
CHANEL commissioned Thomas Lyte to create the J12 Boat Race trophies, marking the centenary of the women’s race and the House’s first title sponsorship in sport.
Take a glance at these fast facts about two elite sporting trophies, handcrafted for one of the world’s most recognisable sporting traditions.
