Within Chinese traditions, the Year of the Dragon holds profound importance and is regarded as highly auspicious. In Chinese astrology, the dragon transcends its mythical essence, becoming a significant cultural and spiritual symbol. It symbolises strength and influence as it plays a dynamic role in maintaining the balance of the world. Here are some timepieces that pay homage to this enduring symbol of success and good fortune.
Chopard
The L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon combines gold and lacquer to present an artisanal celebration of luck and prosperity. This timepiece features a 39.5mm ethical 18-carat rose gold case, maintaining a slender profile of just 6.80mm thanks to the in-house L.U.C 96.17-L calibre with a micro-rotor.
The dial of the watch is a true work of art, adorned with Urushi lacquer, gold powder, and mother-of-pearl inlays. Continuing the tradition of the Chopard Urushi story, the dial is handcrafted in Japan by a renowned artisan specialising in the maki-e technique, marking the 12th year in this remarkable journey. This edition, dedicated to the Dragon, completes a full circle in the Chinese calendar, following the initial model introduced with the Snake edition in 2013.
To commemorate this milestone, a stunning wooden case featuring all 12 L.U.C XP Urushi creations will be unveiled in 2024. This exclusive collection offers collectors a rare opportunity to appreciate these masterpieces of craftsmanship united as a magnificent whole.
See also: Defying traditions
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Transformed into a true masterpiece by the skilled hands of master enamellers and engravers at Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Reverso Tribute Enamel “Dragon” exemplifies top-notch craftsmanship. On the reverse side, the watch case unveils a dragon surrounded by golden clouds. The dragon, meticulously engraved into the pink gold case metal, appears to leap from the glossy black Grand Feu enamel background. The polished surfaces of the dragon’s body, the intricacies of its scales highlighted with black rhodium, and the textured clouds, created with sandblasting, all play with light to enhance the illusion of movement and power.
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The dial of the Reverso Tribute Enamel mirrors the opaque black Grand Feu enamel found on the case-back. The dial’s design exudes elegant simplicity, featuring faceted appliqué hour-markers, a chemin de fer minutes track, and Dauphine hands. This design choice allows the glowing black background to take centre stage, emphasising the beauty of the watch’s dial.
Bell & Ross
For collectors with edgier taste, the BR 05 Artline Dragon watch presents a design reminiscent of a tattoo. While Bell & Ross has established its reputation for crafting efficient instrument watches tailored for professionals, the maison consistently embraces creativity. This timepiece incorporates graphic elements inspired by the art of tattooing, skillfully playing with light and shadow through the intricacy and boldness of each stroke. This technique is pivotal in elevating the design from a mere drawing to a metallic tattoo.
The BR 05 Artline Dragon maintains the collection’s signature bezel with rounded corners, secured to the case by four screws. Creativity extends to addressing the watch’s time indications, showcasing the maison’s daring approach to this avant-garde timepiece.
On the dial and integrated bracelet of the BR 05 Artline Dragon, the decorative motif is finely engraved using an ancestral technique that has been practised in China for over a millennium.
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Harry Winston
Celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Dragon with the Harry Winston Moments, a new collection that introduces fresh aesthetics to the lineup of timepieces. Encased in luxurious rose gold, the watch features a 36mm case showcasing a dial adorned with the majestic figure of an imperial red dragon frolicking amidst ethereal white mother-of-pearl clouds. Noteworthy is the distinctive gold crown, positioned at noon and adorned with a radiant white pearl.
Enhancing the graceful contours of the polished case are two rose gold bands, embellished with 118 brilliant-cut diamonds, which elegantly sweep upward toward the crown. Reflecting the brand’s heritage, the design incorporates signature elements from Mr Winston’s universe into the case’s architecture. In this instance, the diamond-set arches surrounding the crown evoke the grand arched façade of Harry Winston’s Fifth Avenue Flagship Salon in New York City.
Arnold & Son
The Perpetual Moon collection, inspired by the Chinese Zodiac, is an exclusive release that comprises two versions, each limited to only eight pieces. The dial showcases a sweeping panoramic moon casting its glow over a nocturnal garden, featuring a sinuous rose gold dragon set against an aventurine backdrop. On the caseback, a display of the moon’s phases allows for swift and precise adjustments to the moon age. The manually wound A&S1512 calibre, powering the Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Dragon”, exhibits accuracy in tracking lunar phases. Arnold & Son’s commitment to accuracy is evident as the movement, if consistently wound, would take 122 years to accumulate a mere 24-hour deviation from astronomical reality.
Blancpain
In 2012, Blancpain introduced the Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar wristwatch, blending East and West with its combination of a complex Chinese calendar, Gregorian date, and moon phase. The latest edition this year features a red gold winding rotor adorned with a magnificent dragon, accompanied by a red ruby and a Chinese character engraving denoting “dragon” and “wood” — the elemental theme for 2024.
The dial, crafted in full-fired grand feu enamel, boasts a harmonious green colour that complements the 45mm red gold case. Embracing the mysticism of the Chinese calendar, the watch showcases four dedicated hands, a Zodiac window, and a leap month window. These components collectively reveal the Chinese hours (each 120 minutes in duration), the 60-year cycle of elements and Yin/Yang, the 12-year Zodiac cycle, and details of Chinese days, months, and leap months. The Gregorian date is elegantly indicated by a traditional serpentine hand, while the moon phase is presented in a classic window at six o’clock.
Hublot
The acclaimed Chinese paper artist, Chen Fenwan, lends her extraordinary talents to the creation of the Spirit of Big Bang Titanium timepiece. Through Fenwan’s intricate paper-cutting skills, Hublot pays homage to the essence of wood, embodied by the natural fibres that constitute the soul and spirit of paper. This watch serves as a metaphor for the “Art of Fusion”, a concept exemplified by the majestic eastern dragon.
In a 42mm titanium case, Hublot skillfully translates the layered effects of paper cutting into a multi-level dial. Overlaying a base panel, the dial incorporates several levels of appliqués, seamlessly integrating the aesthetic codes of Hublot’s components. The dragon’s silhouette gracefully extends onto the rubber strap, featuring a rubber marquetry motif — a first for Hublot. Each scale of the dragon is coloured and nano-vulcanised, intricately integrated into the strap. This delicate decorative process, entirely executed by hand, requires approximately 8 hours per strap.
The Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon is presented in a limited edition of 88 pieces, accompanied by a second titanium-grey Velcro fabric strap. This Chinese New Year celebration is powered by the HUB1710 automatic movement, boasting a power reserve of 50 hours.
IWC
The Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon (Ref. IW371629), features a 41mm stainless steel case, a rich burgundy dial, and hands and appliqués plated in gold. The choice of burgundy, a variant of red, represents the vibrant hue of fire, traditionally associated with longevity and luck. Powering the chronograph is the IWC-manufactured 69355 calibre, a robust and precise mechanical chronograph movement designed in a classic column-wheel style.
A captivating detail is seen through the transparent sapphire caseback: the gold-plated rotor of the automatic winding system takes the form of a meticulously detailed dragon. Adding another layer of significance, the caseback ring is engraved with “2024 YEAR OF THE DRAGON”. The Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon is presented with two straps: one in black calfskin and another in burgundy rubber, offering versatile and stylish options for the wearer.
TAG Heuer
The Dragon, symbolising power and charisma, aligns with the DNA of TAG Heuer. Crafted from gold and steel, these watches pay tribute to Chinese culture, drawing inspiration from the success embodied by the Chinese Dragon, a narrative that mirrors TAG Heuer’s own Carrera story. The steel variant features a sunray-brushed silver dial, while the gold version shines with its sunray-brushed 18K 5N pink gold-plated dial. Both iterations are embellished with rhodium-plated and 18K 5N pink gold-plated indexes, highlighted by sumptuous red lacquer, creating a harmonious blend. The distinctive red “azuré” subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock provide a captivating contrast with the dial, echoing the iconic reverse panda design. Complementing the steel and 18K 5N pink gold cases, an alligator leather strap in an elegant red enhances the watch’s sophisticated and racing allure. A special box, designed in the profound red colour matching the watch, houses the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph, Year of the Dragon.
Grand Seiko
Although the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat GMT doesn’t feature a dragon on its dial, the vibrant red colour makes it an interesting timepiece to wear. The SBGJ273, in particular, stands out with its remarkable dial capturing a specific moment of Japanese autumnal beauty. Inspired by “yuka momiji”, it reflects the serene allure found in traditional Japanese buildings when the vivid reds of changing maple leaves outdoors are mirrored on lacquered indoor floors. The result is a play of rich colours illuminating the floorboards while maintaining the intricate definition of their striated form.
In Japan, seasons are ingrained in daily life, and savouring the unique charm of each season is a natural part of the cultural ethos. This essence is encapsulated in the latest Grand Seiko Hi-Beat GMT, featuring a dial that vividly portrays a distinctive scene of Japanese autumnal beauty. The SBGJ273 is powered by the Hi-Beat 36000 GMT Calibre 9S86, equipped with automatic winding and a 55-hour power reserve. Operating at 10 vibrations per second, this calibre ensures excellent stability and resilience to external factors such as shocks. Tested to the Grand Seiko Standard, Calibre 9S86 delivers an accuracy of +5 to −3 seconds per day, reflecting the brand’s commitment to precision.
Corum
In a tribute to the mythical dragon, Corum unveils two limited editions of the Bubble model, a collection inspired by Severin Wunderman and his experimental diver’s watch from the 1960s featuring a distinctive domed crystal. The “Bubble Dragon” watch showcases the dragon’s eye depicted on its dial, symbolising strength and power. This detail is crafted by hand using the metal casting technique, enabling the creation of a relief that conventional methods cannot replicate.
The details are further accentuated by the domed sapphire crystal, providing an extraordinary magnifying effect that allows for a full appreciation of the finesse and precision inherent in this horological masterpiece. Both editions are powered by the CO 082 automatic movement, operating at a frequency of 4Hz and offering a 42-hour power reserve. The 47mm diameter cases are constructed from stainless steel with a black PVD finish and feature a sapphire crystal caseback, offering a glimpse into the intricate movement within. Each model is presented on a vulcanised rubber strap and is limited to just 88 pieces.
Parmigiani Fleurier
Maison Parmigiani welcomes the Year of the Dragon with the splendid restoration of a masterpiece from its Métiers d’Art collection, Tempus Fugit, translating to “time flies” in English. The Dragon and the Pearl of Knowledge is a creation that blends Haute Horlogerie and art mechanics, embodying the harmonious synchronisation of timekeepers and automatons. In this creation, utilising a mechanism developed by Parmigiani Fleurier, the dragon completes one revolution per hour, while pursuing an orb at a constant speed in its quest for the glowing pearl. Just as the dragon is about to grasp it, the pearl eludes the dragon’s grasp six times an hour. With each movement of the pearl, a gong resounds to alert the owner to this captivating dance between the dragon and the pearl.
