In the Chinese culture, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. Considered by many to be an extraordinary creature, the dragon symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck and success. So it’s hardly a surprise that some of the world’s leading watchmakers have created exquisite timepieces to honor this auspicious year in the Chinese zodiac calendar. How many ways can designers pay tribute to this legendary creature? Just do a little dragon hunting on these pages and you’ll truly be amazed. In addition to marveling at the meticulous craftsmanship by master enamellers and engravers, you’ll learn how they incorporate rich materials like gold and titanium into their masterpieces. There’s even one design that features a magical pearl. Each of these timepieces tells a story—what a fitting way to honor the Year of the Dragon. And many of these timepieces are only produced in limited quantities, which makes them even more desirable.
BLANCPAIN VILLERET TRADITIONAL CHINESE CALENDAR
Every year, Blancpain creates a limited-edition timepiece that symbolizes the current year in the Chinese zodiac calendar. For the 2024 edition, the timepiece’s red gold winding rotor features this year’s animal, the dragon, set against a frosted background flanked by a red ruby and a Chinese character engraving of the words “dragon” and “wood,” the element of 2024. The mysticism of the Chinese calendar is displayed with an array of four dedicated hands, a window for the zodiac, and a window for the leap month. The Gregorian date is indicated via a serpentine hand and the moon phase is presented in a window at six o’clock. The dial is created in green Grand Feu enamel to harmonize with the 45mm red gold case. Limited edition of 50.
BOVET RECITAL 26 CHAPTER TWO GOLDEN DRAGON
The Chinese idiom, “Paint the Dragon, Dot the Eyes,” represents striving to achieve perfection, and that’s what BOVET’s artisans have done to create this elegant watch. Limited to a production of just 12 pieces, this award-winning timepiece is fitted with a hand-engraved solid 18K gold golden dragon sculpture and comes presented in BOVET’s patented 18K red gold writing desk case. Other notable features include a unique hemispherical world time display, BOVET’s patented double-sided flying tourbillon, an indexable second time zone indicator and a precision moon phase display in mother-of-pearl. The timepiece has a power reserve of five days, is water resistant to 30 meters, and features a double face full skin alligator bracelet with platinum thread stitching and an 18K red gold folding buckle.
HUBLOT SPIRIT OF BIG BANG TITANIUM DRAGON
In the Chinese calendar, the dragon only comes around every 12 years, and this revered celestial creature is associated with prosperity. To honor this Chinese sign of the zodiac, Hublot’s creation layers its hands, wheels and H-shaped screws to form a 3D silhouette of an eastern dragon. It also includes a rubber strap with a marquetry design for the very first time.
Created in collaboration with the Chinese artist Chen Fenwan, this limited edition of just 88 pieces offers a fusion of tradition and modernity by combining metaphors and symbols to honor the spirit of Hublot which is to be first, unique and different. The timepiece draws its inspiration from the traditional Chinese art of paper cutting which is used to symbolize happiness and good luck.
JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL “DRAGON”
Created to honor Chinese New Year, this new timepiece pays tribute to the Year of the Dragon and to the talents of the master enamellers and engravers in the Métiers Rares atelier of the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre. Swiveling the watch case to its reverse side reveals a majestic dragon surrounded by golden clouds. Engraved into the pink gold case metal, the dragon seems to leap out from the background of glossy black Grand Feu enamel. The fine details of the dragon’s scales are highlighted with black rhodium and the clouds feature a sandblasted texture that catches and refracts the light. Master engravers devote 80 hours to the creation of each masterpiece. The strap is fashioned of black alligator and the timepiece has a power reserve of 42 hours.
ROGER DUBUIS EXCALIBUR DRAGON MONOTOURBILLON
Marking the Year of the Dragon, this 42mm Poinçon de Genève watch is made from pink gold with a dragon crafted from 27 pieces, all set on 25 levels for volume and vitality. Inside the skeletonized RD512SQ Calibre, the complex flying tourbillon features non-magnetic materials for a sublime performance. To resist surrounding forces, the Flying Tourbillon includes an upper cage in non-magnetic Cobalt Chrome, and a lower cage in titanium—also non-magnetic. This watch is limited to 28 pieces and features a quick release calf-skin strap and 72 hours of power reserve. Unlike the dragon timepiece released in 2020, this Monotourbillon depicts the creature in a more abstract way—leaving more room for interpretation and inviting the wearer to set their imagination free.
ULYSSE NARDIN BLAST TOURBILLON DRAGON
The year 2024 heralds the Year of the Dragon. These revered creatures symbolize strength, power and good fortune and are frequently associated with pearls, which represent purity, wisdom and wealth. These two elements come together in the new Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon Dragon which features a dragon symbolically guarding a magical pearl. The rose gold dragon is engraved and micro-painted entirely by hand and the inclusion of five claws is not incidental. Five-clawed dragons are traditionally seen to signify the highest prestige. The timepiece features a skeleton dial with a double X in black, a rose gold case, black DLC titanium middle case and bezel and a choice of black alligator or black rubber “velvet” strap with a rose gold and black titanium folding clasp.
VACHERON CONSTANTIN GRISAILLE HIGH JEWELLERY DRAGON WATCH
The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Recits de Voyages collection is a watchmaking odyssey that honors the arts and cultures or the world. For the Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery Dragon, the Maison’s master enameller has employed the art of grisaille, a technique dating back to the 16th century, using green enamels to pay a vibrant tribute to the mythical five-clawed imperial dragon depicted on the dial. Emblematic of the Maison’s technical mastery, this one-of-a-kind watch is set with 146 baguette-cut diamonds and the crown is adorned with a reverse-set brilliant-cut diamond. The timepiece is powered by in-house Calibre 1120, and an ultra-thin, self-winding movement. It is paired with a dark green alligator leather strap with a white gold pin buckle set with 16 baguette-cut diamonds.