The eye of the tiger
Unleash your inner tiger with our selection of Chinese New Year watches. The year of the tiger will start next February 1st and it’s the perfect occasion for watchmakers to show off their handcrafted and technic savoir-faire, but also to attract their precious Asian customers.
BLANCPAIN – Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel: a very complex calibre
A new Chinese year has begun, and thus a new Blancpain watch has been revealed. Indeed, the watchmaking brand has unveiled its new Traditional Chinese Calendar. While honouring the Chinese zodiac sign and celebrating the Chinese New Year in its own way. The expert hands of the manufacture’s craftsmen thus engraved the feline, discreetly nestled on the case back, on the gold oscillating weight of the automatic calibre. The Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel is also an exclusive complication by Blancpain, developed after five years of research.
Indeed, besides a Gregorian calendar, the white “grand feu” enamel dial displays the Chinese calendar main indicators: dual time, the day, the month and intercalary months, the Zodiac signs, the five elements, Celestial stem and a moonphase. A 45mm “double pomme” case (characteristic of the Villeret collection models) made of platinum also protects the extremely complex watchmaking.
Edition limited up to 50 pieces
Price: € 61,870
45mm platinum case
Traditional Chinese Calendar
Gregorian Calendar
Moonphase
Power reserve of 168 hours
Gold oscillating weight set with a ruby from Madagascar
White “grand feu” enamel dial
BREGUET – Classique 7145: the guillochage and hand-engraving art
The Manufacture Breguet gift us with a remarkable illustration of its Métiers d’Art expertise, more specifically the guillochage and hand-engraving. A savoir-faire rooted in the Maison’s DNA since its creation in 1775 and carried throughout the years.
Captured inside a 40mm rose gold case, the tiger seems however to be walking freely on the dial thanks to an impressive work on perspective. In fact, this unique bas-relief technic results from a whole week of work, carved by a master engraver who needs to prepare many layers for this outcome.
Firstly, he delineates the tiger’s and background’s contours on the gold dial. Then, he colours it in black to accentuate the contrast. Finally, guilloché segments are hand-engraved to accentuate the drawing’s precision. That is a successful challenge on a very small surface, on which the feline seems to move towards us.
Edition limited to 8 pieces
Price upon request
Rose gold case, fluted caseband
Diameter: 40 mm
Water-resistance: 30 mm
Gold dial engraved by hand and decorate with hand-guilloché, separation contours engraved by hand and black galvanic treatment
Blued steel Breguet hands
Ultra-thin automatic movement (2,4 mm)
Inverted in-line lever escapement, with silicon horns and balance spring
Calibre 502.3
3Hz frequency
Power reserve of 45 hours
162 components
Leather bracelet with rose gold pin buckle
SWATCH – Big Bold Tiger Power 2022: you inner tiger!
Another universe but also very creative, Swatch has revealed its watch celebrating the year of the tiger. The 47mm diameter Big Bold in bio ceramic is indeed the model that has been chosen for the Tiger Power 2022, with highly symbolic colours.
The golden dial with a origami tiger’s head created using a 3D technic is a reference to wealth, while the red crown, loops and hands symbolises joy, happiness, luck and vitality.
Also, the bio-sourced matte black colour of the bracelet, the case and the bezel represents immortality, knowledge, stability and power. Available in a special box, this model will certainly bring luck to its future owner.
Price: € 150
VACHERON CONSTANTIN – Métiers d’Art – The Legend of The Chinese Zodiac – Year of Tiger: the alliance of the Métiers d’Art
In our article, It’s time for the year of the rat!, we mentioned the inspiration of “jianzhi”. That is an ancestral Chinese paper-cutting technique on this highly artistic collection from Vacheron Constantin. Indeed, the master craftsmen have engraved directly onto the dial’s surface some plant motifs from Chinese iconography. The vegetation seems to float in relief on a dial crafted in “grand feu” enamel, another artisanal process that requires precision and dexterity.
In blue or bronze, the dial features a hand-engraved platinum or rose gold tiger, surrounded by four apertures displaying the hours, minutes, day of the week and date for an intuitive time reading. With a 40 mm diameter, both versions are certified with the prestigious Poinçon de Genève and feature an automatic caliber with a gold oscillating weight decorated with a motif inspired by the Maltese cross.
Limited edition of 12 pieces for each model
Price upon request
Calibre 2460G4
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Self-winding mechanical movement
Power reserve: 40 hours
Certified Poinçon de Genève
40-mm diameter case in platinum or in 18K 5N rose gold
Transparent case back, sapphire glass
Water-resistant up to 3 bar
18K gold dial, hand engraved, grand feu enamel
Engraved tiger in platinum or in 18K 5N rose gold
Mississippiensis alligator dark blue or dark brown bracelet, hand-stitched, saddle finish, alligator leather inner shell
Platinium or 18K 5N rose gold deployant buckle
PIAGET – Chinese New Year 2022: the enamel in all its splendour
Piaget also presents its special Chinese New Year edition with an Altiplano model. Indeed, housed in a 38 mm diameter white gold case set with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds, the dial features a roaring tiger in cloisonné “grand feu” enamel.
Masterfully crafted by Anita Porchet, the Maison’s famous enameler, this decorative art consists in transferring the design on the dial using fine gold ribbons. When applied in this way, they create miniature partitions in which enamel pigments are placed.
As a true goldsmith piece, the dial is then fired several times at temperatures between 820°C and 850°C according to the desired shade by the “master enameller”. In short, a pure marvel.
Limited edition of 38 pieces
Price upon request
18K white gold
Case set with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds
Dial with cloisonné “grand feu” enamel by Anita Porcet representing a tiger from the Chinese zodiac
Manufacture Piaget ultra-thin manual-winding 430P movement
Functions: Hours, minutes
Alligator strap with 18K white gold ardillon buckle
HARRY WINSTON – Premier Chinese New Year Automatic 36 mm: red and diamonds
Jeweler-watchmaker Harry Winston presents not an adult tiger, but two tiger cubs at the center of the dial of its new 36mm Premier Chinese New Year Automatic edition. Each miniature feline is also adorned with small diamonds eyes in rose gold, where red beaded mother-of-pearl has been added in the cut-out areas shaped by artisans to recreate the famous tiger tawny coat. As a nod to the Maison’s heritage and also in tribute to creative director Ambaji Shinde, two pink and purple mother-of-pearl peonies adorn the tiger cubs.
Three rose gold rosettes set with a central diamond are featured, inspired by the floral motif on the grand entryway leading into Harry Winston’s 5th Avenue salon, in New York. Paired with a shiny red alligator strap, the watch is also powered by a beautifully crafted Swiss-made mechanical automatic movement fitted with a non-magnetic silicon balance spring. Reliability and jewellery merge together to ensure its future owner luck and prosperity.
Limited edition of 8 pieces
Price upon request
Calibre HW2014
Mechanical automatic winding
Silicon balance spring
18K rose gold skeletonized rotor, circular Côtes de Genève, rhodium plating, circular graining
Power reserve up to 68 hours
Functions: excentered hours and minutes
18K rose gold case set with 57 brilliant-cut diamonds
Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant up to 3 bar
Red, pink, purple and green beaded mother-of-pearl case, 65 brilliant-cut diamonds and one emerald-cut diamond
Shiny red alligator strap
18K rose gold ardillon buckle set with 17 brilliant-cut diamonds
LOUIS VUITTON – Tambour Horizon Light Up: a technology jewel
The Tambour Horizon Light Up is a great success, to sum up. Even with many offers on the market of the digital watch, it still draws particular attention, thanks to its atypical dial. Indeed, the touchscreen face is one with the case middle for a guaranteed “trompe-l’oeil” effect. Around the edge, you will also find 24 LEDs backlight Monogram flowers – Louis Vuitton’s signature. Customisable, it offers eight display themes that can be modified by its owner among eleven colour gradations. A real digital rainbow!
Just like the model dedicated to the Chinese New Year with its adorable tiger, Louis Vuitton can thus decline its Tambour Horizon Light Up at will. This special 44-mm diameter edition wears polished steel, and is also available with a red leather strap. iOs, Android and Harmony compatible.
Price: from € 2,850
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