The Year of the Ox is upon us. Those born under the sign of the Ox are said to be dependable and diligent – and perhaps this year are deserving of a lasting memento of their hard work. Here are our picks for timepieces to mark the Chinese New Year of 2021.
Harry Winston Premier Chinese New Year Ox Automatic 36mm
Limited to just eight auspicious pieces, this delicate offering from Harry Winston includes 57 diamonds on the rose gold case and 106 on the dial. The ox is depicted through a realistic silhouette outline of rose gold and highlighted with diamonds; this is applied on a red mother-of-pearl dial that lends depth and iridescence. The lower section of the dial bears a wave-like pattern inspired by the rolling landscapes of traditional Chinese paintings.
Piaget Altiplano Year of the Ox (RM292,000)
The familiar, supremely thin elegance of the Piaget Altiplano is seen here in a 38mm white gold offering, complete with 78 diamonds. The dial is by Anita Porchet, the most famous name in watch enamelling, and presents a regal ox in grand feu cloisonne enamel; cloisonne refers to the technique of using metal wire – in this case, gold ribbon – as part of the design. This watch is exclusive to Piaget boutiques and is limited to 38 pieces.
Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle Tourbillon ‘Under the favourable auspices of the Qilin’
Though not ox-related, there is no better time than Chinese New Year to partake in this gloriously ornate example of haute horlogerie. The 42 mm pink gold case of this watch is meticulously hand-engraved, along with the black-treated gold guilloche dial. The dial also features two Qilin, mythical chimeric creatures of beauty and auspice. The hand-wound tourbillon movement features an incredible two-week power reserve, monitored by the indicator at 12 o’clock. This timepiece is limited to 18 numbered pieces and is exclusive to Vacheron Constantin boutiques.
Blancpain Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel
This 50-piece limited edition of Blancpain’s Traditional Chinese Calendar is issued in a 45 mm platinum case, with an ox quietly appearing at 12 o’clock on the white enamel dial and engraved on the winding rotor of the complete calendar movement. Said movement is an in-house development that took five years to create, and is a total readout of the Chinese calendar – it includes a double-hour counter, zodiac signs, celestial stems, five-element indicator, as well as moonphase, month (and leap months) and date.
Chopard LUC XP Urushi Year of the Ox (RM97,650)
Once again, Chopard taps into traditional Japanese craftsmanship to celebrate the Chinese zodiac. This 88-piece limited edition features a scene of an ox pulling a cart, expressed through the time-honoured Urushi lacquer technique – executed by master artisans of the 100-year-old Yamada Heiando company. The dial also features accents of gold and mother-of-pearl. The ultra-thin rose case is 39.5mm in diameter, sculpted from a block of ethically sourced rose gold.
Ulysse Nardin Classico ‘Year of the Ox’ Limited Edition (RM167,200)
The dial of this watch is a dynamic one in bold, gold colours. It shows an ox in movement on a backdrop of incredible, finely detailed texture of sunrays and grasslands, made possible through the champlevé enamel. The rose gold case is 40 mm in diameter, and it holds a chronometer-certified automatic movement. This watch, limited to 88 pieces, is the 10th in a series of 12 Chinese zodiac watches that began in 2012.
Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon
Louis Vuitton’s stylish, traveller-centric smartwatch stays fresh with 12 new watch faces that include not just the ox, but the other animals of the Chinese zodiac as well. The animated designs are a playful take on the iconic elements of the maison’s defining monogram style. The Tambour was always an exuberant and unconventional take on horology, and the Horizon combined that outlook with high-tech features to make for a distinctive, customisable modern accessory.
