According to official reports, Chanel, the French luxury house, has bought a 25% stake in high-end Swiss watchmaker MB&F, known for its quirky watch designs on Thursday, adding it was part of strategy to increase its presence in watch-making.

MB&F has built a reputation as a maker of small series of watches inspired by retro futuristic and science fiction themes, and as well as animals such as jelly fish and frogs.

Chanel makes watches, in addition to its perfume and fashion lines, and has previously taken stakes in other Swiss watch-makers including Romain Gauthier and FP Journe.