The Year of the Dragon of the traditional Chinese is an especially coveted and auspicious one, with the Dragon’s power and vitality long seen as especially strong and desirable traits. The Dragon subject lends itself especially well to bold artistic interpretations, as showcased in this selection of metiers d’art timepieces from the following maisons.
Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon Dragon 5345
The tourbillon is Abraham-Louis Breguet’s most famous horological invention, and the Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon Dragon features not one, but two of them in an unabashed technical display. They are linked by a differential mechanism that takes the average timings of both, resulting in a theoretically improved accuracy. This special edition features a hand-engraved gold dragon twirling between the tourbillon pair. Each piece has one-of-a-kind potential, with Breguet offering personalisation of the dragon’s shape and colour, along with colour choices for hands, strap, and numerals.
Arnold & Son Luna Magna Red Gold ‘Year of the Dragon’
Presented in a 44mm case of red gold, the Arnold & Son Luna Magna Red Gold ‘Year of the Dragon’ has a majestic, hand-engraved dragon—also in red gold, and with details such as scales, claws, whiskers, and horns—coming face-to-face with a three-dimensional moonphase indicator. The manually wound A&S1021 calibre was developed, produced and assembled entirely in-house. Meanwhile, the moonphase indicator is so accurate, it will only be off by a day in 122 years. The dial is in either a hypnotically swirling pietersite or deep black onyx, with each limited to eight pieces.
Vacheron Constantin Metiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Dragon
This latest entry in the Metiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac series closes a cycle for Vacheron Constantin, as this annual collection began with the Snake in 2012—meaning that this Dragon edition is the 12th such watch. Released as two 25-piece limited editions—one in a handsome blue with a platinum case, and one in a warmer brown with pink gold case—this timepiece features the 2460 G4 calibre, which indicates time, date and day via four windows at the edges of the Grand Feu enamel dial. This leaves plenty of space for the intricately sculpted Dragon motif, which stands out in relief.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Dragon’
The mono-faced versions of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso may have started as a way to protect the dial from sporting endeavours, but in the modern context better serves as a platform for decoration. The reverse side of the pink gold Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Dragon’ hosts a highly detailed engraving of the Dragon, with scales highlighted in black rhodium. It stands out dramatically against the background, which is glossy black Grand Feu enamel—something that poses an extra challenge to the engraver, as they have to work not on bare metal but on an already enamelled surface that must not be damaged. The dial proper is also in black Grand Feu enamel, and great care has been taken to keep both sides consistent with each other.
Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon
Chopard’s ever-elegant L.U.C collection this year hosts the XP Urushi Year of the Dragon, which is the 12th in the Urushi series. Its dial masterfully combines urushi lacquer, gold powder and mother of pearl inlays, and was handcrafted in Japan by a master of the maki-e technique—Minori Koizumi of the Yamada Heiando company, who takes at least 20 hours per dial. The case is 39.5mm in diameter and crafted out of ethical rose gold, while being exceptionally slim at just 6.8mm in thickness. Limited to 88 pieces, it holds a self-winding movement with a 65-hour power reserve thanks to its twin-barrel supply.
Franck Muller Cintree Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon Limited Edition
Big, brash, and bold has long been the Franck Muller way—but there are always exceptions. This special edition is a quirky take on the Lunar New Year theme, featuring a demure turquoise colour scheme and art by Ryoko Kaneta, who hails from Japan. Her work typically involves blending philosophical themes with manga-inspired figures in the kawaii (cute) aesthetic, and this watch is no exception—hiding shyly behind each of the numerals on the guilloche dial is a tiny dragon girl. The watch is limited to 500 pieces and is exclusive to the Asia-Pacific region.
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon
The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon has plenty to admire—the flying tourbillon, skeleton movement showcasing the demanding finishing requirements of the Poinçon de Genève, and the abstract dragon artwork it integrates. The complex 3D structure of the dragon is made from 27 brass elements set across 25 different levels. Each element is treated with black lacquer on the sides, and with a polished, pink gold galvanic treatment on the facing surface. Outfitted with a 42mm pink gold case, the watch is limited to only 28 pieces.
Jacob & Co Astronomia Art Red Dragon Baguette
As ever, the Jacob & Co Astronomia has plenty of prime real estate for artistic endeavours. At 47mm in diameter and 25mm in thickness—which includes its impressively domed sapphire crystal—it is quite the wrist-worn statement. Its incredibly complex movement is impressive on its own: a four-armed mechanical wonder that includes a double-axis tourbillon, rotating globe, one-carat diamond, and a revolving hour-and-minutes dial. This six-piece limited edition sees a hand-engraved and hand-painted rose gold dragon coiling around it, completed with ruby eyes. The base of the dial consists of 202 baguette-cut diamonds, and a further 100 are found on the case lugs. All in, each timepiece has more than 20 carats of diamonds.
Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon Dragon
Ulysse Nardin’s edgy, contemporary Blast Tourbillon was never one for the shy, with a boldly faceted design and large 45mm diameter. It has now been graced by a rose gold dragon that winds in and out of the watch’s distinctive X-shaped dial structure. To accommodate the engraved sculpture—which was hand-painted in shades of red, orange and yellow—small tweaks had to be made to the Blast Tourbillon’s case, bezel and glass-box crystal. At 6 o’clock, the flying tourbillon has been fitted with a mother-of-pearl cap to represent the mythical pearl, a reference to Chinese folklore. The Blast Tourbillon Dragon is limited to a run of 88 pieces.
Blancpain Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel
Blancpain’s Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel—or Traditional Chinese Calendar—is offered for the first time in a red gold case with a green enamel dial. Indications include double-hour, zodiac sign, date and month of the Chinese calendar, indication of the five elements, celestial stems, and leap months—as well as moonphase and Gregorian date. As this begins a new cycle of 12 for this grand complication, the symbols for the zodiac indicator have been refreshed. Through the display caseback one can admire a dragon symbol on the red gold winding rotor, engraved by Blancpain’s Metiers d’Art workshop in Le Brassus. Limited to 36 pieces, the watch has a 45mm case diameter and is 15mm thick.
Piaget Polo Emperador Dragon High Jewellery Watch
Piaget starts a new cycle of Chinese Zodiac watches with a bold new direction. Accompanying the already exceptional enamelled Altiplano Dragon executions is this remarkable eight-piece limited edition Piaget Polo Emperador Dragon. Featuring a flying tourbillon and dial-side micro-rotor, this 46.5mm watch also sports an engraved gold dragon that snakes its way around the sides of the case. The rest of the dial and case forms a sparkling backdrop of snow-set sapphires and diamonds, with coloration carefully selected for a gradient effect, and to suggest a starry night sky.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph The Year of the Dragon – Gold Edition
TAG Heuer celebrates the Year of the Dragon with two limited editions of its famous Carrera Chronograph—one in steel, and this 50-piece limited edition in rose gold. It is an especially auspicious execution with a red alligator leather strap, a rose gold-plated sunray dial and red lacquered central seconds hand, as well as a calligraphic dragon character at six o’clock. The 42mm watch also has a ‘reverse panda’ styling with its two subdials, which are coloured a deep red. The in-house, vertical clutch and column wheel-equipped movement boasts a customised winding rotor with printed dragon motif that can be seen through the display caseback.
Bell & Ross BR05 Artline Dragon
Simple, but complex: the Bell & Ross BR 05 Artline Dragon features a laser-engraved tattoo-like dragon motif covering almost every visible surface of its dial, and steel case and bracelet. It even includes the crown guard. It lends the watch an additional artistic yet contemporary touch, and complements the modern urban stylings of the 40mm BR 05. It is limited to 99 pieces and available only from Bell & Ross boutiques, whether online or brick-and-mortar.
Dior Grand Soir Year of the Dragon
A demure 36mm in diameter, the Dior Grand Soir Year of the Dragon has a sun-brushed dial that features a golden dragon head, its feathers set off with four round-cut diamonds. The dragon’s eyes are a pair of marquise-cut diamonds. The stainless steel case has a yellow gold bezel set with a further 52 round-cut diamonds. The automatic movement, which can be glimpsed through the translucent sapphire caseback, is a pure expression of timekeeping with just hour and minute functions, indicated by gold-coloured, faceted hour and minute hands.
Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon
The 42mm tonneau-shaped case of Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang here serves as a canvas for Chinese artist Chen Fenwen. Her colourful paper-based work is translated to the dial with hands, cogs, screws and other components arranged in layers to create a dragon’s head in an ode to traditional paper cutting. The dragon’s body is suggested to be part of the strap, with Hublot debuting a rubber marquetry technique in a scale pattern. Featuring a 50-hour automatic movement, the Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon is limited to 88 pieces.
IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon
IWC Schaffhausen’s Year of the Dragon celebration comes in the form of a burgundy dial execution of the classic Portugieser Chronograph. Its gold-plated hands and applique numerals make for an especially auspicious combination, while the gold-plated winding rotor—visible through the display caseback—depicts a dragon on its own. Limited to 1,000 pieces, the Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon comes with a black calfskin strap and a burgundy rubber strap, and is powered by the IWC-manufactured 69355 calibre.
