A symbol of wisdom, agility and charm, the mysterious snake is the sixth sign of the Chinese Zodiac. Its sinuous profile has long been an element of art and design, and for the watches celebrating the Lunar New Year of 2025, this is no exception—with scales and coils an excuse for the industry’s finest artisans to show off the finer details of watchmaking.
Breguet Classique 7145
Enigmatic and abstract, the gold dial of this watch is a glorious demonstration of engraved outlines and precise engine-turned patterns for the textural emphasis—an extensive and challenging set of hand-operated techniques. Breguet’s artisans still use guilloche machines that are more than a century old, precise to a 10th of a millimetre. Details are brought out in black, and green lacquer is applied to the foliage for a refined splash of colour. The rose gold case is 40mm in diameter, and it houses the ultra-thin self-winding Calibre 502 for a slim overall thickness of just 6.5mm. It is exclusively available at Breguet’s boutiques, is limited to just eight pieces, and is priced at RM343,500.
Vacheron Constantin Metiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Snake
Presented in a choice of either pink gold or platinum case (and limited to 25 pieces each) is Vacheron Constantin’s continuing works of art dedicated to the Chinese zodiac. The metiers d’art showcased this year are engraving and enamelling; the former via a carved gold applique depicting a meticulously scaled cobra perched on a rock, and the latter with a grand feu background with the flora delicately painted on top of it. As ever, the in-house calibre 2460 G4 and its unobtrusive window displays communicate the time, day and date without interfering with the artwork.
Franck Muller Silhouette CX Snake
Introduced with the Year of the Snake is a new case design from Franck Muller. The Silhouette CX Snake has a playful asymmetrical design with a pronounced, off-kilter undulation to the profile of its rose gold case (RM214,900). The curved sapphire glass was a particular challenge to manufacture, requiring advanced grinding and CNC methods. Measuring 44mm by 31mm, the dial features numerals that have been precisely machined to match the irregular case. It also features a snake, more suggested than depicted, via snow-set deep green emeralds of varying diameters, giving it a shifting, organic appearance. A rubber-backed green leather strap with embossed snakeskin pattern completes it. This watch is limited the 28 pieces and is an Asia-Pacific exclusive.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake’
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The classically Art Deco lines of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s iconic Reverso are especially handsome in black and pink gold—as they are once again in this year’s special, snake-themed edition. The mono-face version of the Reverso has a blank caseback that is prime real estate for decoration, and here reveals a hand-engraved snake with scale details hand-drawn with black rhodium, as it coils around sandblasted clouds. This is depicted on a backdrop of pure black enamel—a match for the dial—which adds to the difficulty as it must remain pristine throughout the engraving work. The watch measures about 46mm by 27mm.
Blancpain Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel 2025
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Blancpain’s traditional Chinese calendar complication is a complex one. Requiring five years of research before it could start being assembled at the manufacture’s Grand Complications workshop in Le Brassus, Calibre 3638 requires 464 components to convey not only the date and month of the Chinese calendar, but also zodiac sign, five elements indication, leap months, and more—and it even has a three-barrel, seven-day power reserve. For this year, it is for the first time being offered in a 45mm platinum case paired with a green grand feu enamel dial. The white gold rotor, visible through the display caseback, features an engraving of a coiled snake. It is limited to 50 pieces and is priced at RM401,000.
Dior Grand Soir Automate CNY SNAKE
With a diameter of 36mm, the Dior Grand Soir Automate CNY SNAKE has a stainless-steel case paired with a rose gold bezel set with 52 brilliant-cut diamonds. The mother-of-pearl dial features a Toile de Jouy pattern; on top of it, a forest of flowers and leaves are also fashioned from mother-of-pearl. Rose gold butterflies and flowers complete the scene, as does an opaline snake winding its way through the lower half of the dial. This watch is limited to 38 pieces.
Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Cobra Limited Edition
The Breitling makes the Avenger for contemporary aviators and adventurers, with a brash, chunky profile thanks to its oversize bezel and pushers that make it easier to manipulate while wearing gloves. This 200-piece Cobra Limited Edition (RM36,400) is a particularly bold expression, with a vivid yellow-and-black dial with red highlights. One of those highlights is a cobra design, found on the running seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock. A red snake can also be found on the display caseback. At 44mm in diameter, this watch a the COSC-certified manufacture chronograph movement that is self-winding with a 70-hour power reserve.
Breguet
Vacheron Constantin
Franck Muller
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Blancpain
Dior
Breitling
