Blancpain’s Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel wristwatch features the Chinese calendar, Gregorian date and emblematic moon phase on a green grand feu enamel dial in a platinum case.
On the dial, four hands and two apertures display the sexagesimal cycle’s five elements with Yin and Yang at 3 o’clock, Chinese days and months and leap year information at 9 o’clock, and double Chinese hours at 12 o’clock. The zodiac sign of the lunar year also appears at 12 o’clock, while a serpentine hand indicates the Gregorian date. Blancpain’s iconic moon phase at 6 o’clock completes the display, harmonising tradition and innovation in this masterful creation.
The serpent is engraved on the 22kt white gold rotor, visible through the case back of this 50-piece limited edition. Brought to life in Blancpain’s Métiers d’Art workshop, it is delicately drawn and positioned near the Chinese characters for “serpent” and “wood.”
This timepiece is powered by Calibre 3638, a mechanism with 464 components and three barrels crafted over five years of research and development. It offers an impressive seven-day power reserve.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel “Snake” is a made-to-order creation crafted in the Métiers Rares atelier.
Originally designed in 1931 with a swivelling case to protect polo players’ watches, the Reverso evolved into a canvas for artistic innovation. Its blank reverse side became an ideal medium for showcasing intricate crafts.
The case back of this piece reveals a meticulously hand-engraved snake emerging from golden clouds against a rich, glossy black grand feu enamel backdrop. The master engraver used modelled engraving, sculpting the snake’s detailed scales and sandblasted clouds with 10 chisels over 80 hours to create depth and texture, enhanced by black rhodium finishes on the snake’s scales.
The case back and dial required multiple layers of enamel, each carefully fired and cooled over many days to achieve a uniform, deep black hue before being polished to perfection. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s in-house enamelling atelier is one of a few preserving this art.
The dial mirrors the grand feu enamel of the reverse side, showcasing a clean, Art Deco aesthetic. Faceted appliqué hour markers, a chemin de fer minutes track, and Dauphine hands highlight the timeless simplicity and sophistication of the Reverso Tribute design.
Perrelet commemorates the Chinese New Year with the Turbine Snake, a limited edition of 88 pieces. This model features a red lacquered sub-dial, a colour of luck and protection, bearing golden ideograms for well-being and prosperity. At its centre, the snake’s gilded 3D coiled body and raised head are intricately detailed, revealing two types of scales and a forked tongue.
The watch’s dynamic turbine, a Perrelet hallmark, enhances the dial’s drama. Comprising 12 black anodised aluminium blades, it spins effortlessly with wrist movement, gradually revealing the snake motif beneath. Red accents, luminescent markers, and Super-LumiNova-coated hands ensure visibility and harmony across the dial, all protected by anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass.
The Turbine Snake is powered by the in-house P-331-MH calibre, developed with Soprod. This self-winding movement boasts a 42-hour power reserve, a 4 Hz frequency, and dual certifications: COSC (for precision) and Chronofiable (for long-term reliability). It is visible through a sapphire case back.
The 41mm case, crafted from lightweight black DLC-coated titanium, ensures durability and comfort. Its ergonomic design includes a flat, flared bezel, grooved case middle, and seamlessly integrated black rubber strap embossed with Perrelet’s logo.
The Turbine Snake is presented in a bespoke box featuring the snake motif.
Arnold & Son honours the Chinese zodiac with the Perpetual Moon 41.5 “Year of the Snake”, a stunning eight-piece series in red gold. It features a signature astronomical moon complication against a luminous aventurine glass dial.
The timepiece celebrates the transformative energy of the snake, symbolising introspection and growth. The centrepiece is a hand-engraved rose gold snake entwined with a ginkgo biloba branch, a motif of resilience and vitality. Surrounding it, a nocturnal scene is brought to life with a large, Super-LumiNova-enhanced mother-of-pearl moon and luminescent constellations of Ursa Major and Cassiopeia, inspired by John Arnold’s legacy as a marine chronometer-maker.
The manually wound A&S1512 calibre powers the watch with exceptional lunar accuracy, deviating by only 24 hours every 122 years. Designed and crafted entirely in La Chaux-de-Fonds, it features a dual-barrel mechanism, a 90-hour power reserve, and a precise secondary moon phase display on the case back for easy adjustment.
This CIGA Design mechanical watch, Legend of the Snake, embraces Eastern symbolism to evoke deeper emotional and artistic connections. The serpentine totem is reimagined as a contemporary emblem, radiating dynamic elegance and refined allure.
There is an 18kt gold edition, containing approximately one gram of pure gold, and a 925 sterling silver version, crafted using an ancient casting technique perfected over millennia before being meticulously hand polished. The hexagonal honeycomb dial showcases an intricate serpentine motif with a dimensional design. A subtle indentation at the centre and elevation at the edges create depth and dimension. Encased in black agate, each piece is sculpted by master artisans using CNC cutting and hand-polishing techniques to capture the refined elegance of jade.
Finally, Oris celebrates Chinese New Year with the ProPilot X Year of the Snake Limited Edition, an 88-piece titanium timepiece. Distinctive details include Chinese cyan accents inspired by the zodiac element wood and a golden snake-tongue power reserve indicator hand.
At its heart lies the hand-wound Calibre 115, a skeletonised movement designed in-house. It boasts a 10-day power reserve and Oris’s patented non-linear indicator for precision winding.
