Dragon-themed watches for the upcoming Lunar New Year
These mythical spitfires reign supreme this Lunar New Year, and having them so close to the skin is the ultimate talisman.
While dragons are often associated with destruction and mayhem in Western folklore, they represent the complete opposite in Chinese culture: luck, prosperity and wisdom. The only animal in the Oriental zodiac that isn’t real, the dragon’s design is open for dramatic interpretation – a challenge watch brands take on with gusto every 12 years. Wearing a beautifully crafted powerful symbol of strength on one’s person is a privilege reserved only for the discerning, and here are a few options should you want to fete the Year of the Wood Dragon with a new talismanic timekeeper.
HUBLOT SPIRIT OF BIG BANG TITANIUM DRAGON
To fete the Year of the Wood Dragon, Hublot took inspiration from the traditional Chinese art of paper-cutting for this celebratory Spirit of Big Bang limited-edition run. The maison collaborated with Chinese artist Chen Fenwan to place paper-cutting in a contemporary art context, creating a majestic and dynamic dragon that seemingly rises to the heavens. In a 42 mm titanium case, Hublot transposes the layered effects of paper-cutting into a multi-level dial construction overlaying a base panel with several levels of appliqués that incorporate the aesthetic codes of Hublot’s components. The dragon’s silhouette extends onto the rubber strap, which features a marquetry motif — a first for Hublot.
Discover Hublot’s collections at The Hour Glass.
ULYSSE NARDIN BLAST TOURBILLON DRAGON
Since its debut in 2020, the Blast Tourbillon has established itself as the symbol of Ulysse Nardin’s unconventional know-how and design. For the Year of the Dragon, the Blast Tourbillon is endowed with a hand-sculpted version of this mythical creature in rose gold, coiling its way around and through the skeletonised X structure, as though slithering out from within the movement itself. Before it, protected between its five-clawed hands, the mythical pearl sits in prime position atop the cage of the flying tourbillon. The choice of five claws is not incidental; associated with imperial dynasties, five-clawed dragons are traditionally seen as to signify the highest prestige.
Discover Ulysse Nardin’s collections at The Hour Glass.
TAG HEUER CHRONOGRAPH YEAR OF THE DRAGON
In order to maintain the purity and elegance of the racing-inspired Carrera model, TAG Heuer’s designers have opted to place the snaking form of the dragon closer to the wrist, and is therefore printed on the sapphire crystal caseback. The two 42 mm models in stainless steel and 18-carat rose gold remain faithful to Jack Heuer’s original design, with piston-pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock, large crown, angular lugs, and no tachymeter on the bezel. Its festive touches are evident in the rich red shade chosen for the hour markers and chronograph windows, extending to the alligator strap. Limited to 300 watches in steel and 50 in rose gold, TAG Heuer’s Year of the Dragon models are presented in a special red gift box.
Discover TAG Heuer’s collections at The Hour Glass.
PIAGET ALTIPLANO DRAGON ZODIAC
Master enameller Anita Porchet has again lent her genius to Piaget for the maison’s Lunar New Year collection, but most unusually for the season, opted for bright blue. A modern and ebullient expression, the Altiplano Dragon Zodiac features this mythical creature in a range of blue hues, brought to vivid life against a mother-of-pearl sky by Porchet’s masterful cloisonné enamelling and her signature play of light, shadow and transparency. Gold engraving further enhances the dragon’s scales, adding depth and dimension. The 38 mm white gold case features diamonds on the bezel, and within ticks the manually-wound, ultra-thin Calibre 430P. The watch is completed by a dark blue alligator leather strap.
