Chinese New Year takes place on February 16, 2018 marking the start of the Year of the Dog. Symbolising loyalty and honesty, people born in the Year of the Dog are thought to be friendly, faithful, smart and responsible. As has become tradition in recent years, many fine watch brands have released limited edition watches celebrating the occasion – here are some of the best...
Panerai Luminor 1950 Sealand 3 Days Automatic Acciaio
Panerai has been creating special Chinese New Year watches for a number of years now and, in line with its predecessors, this year’s iteration is part of the Luminor 1950 Sealand range. Panerai’s signature 44mm curved square case sports a steel cover engraved using the traditional sparsello technique to depict a gold and black dog inspired by Chinese iconography. Beneath the cover lies a minimalist grey dial while a sapphire crystal caseback reveals a mechanical movement with a three day power reserve and 100 metre water resistance.
Case: Steel, 44mm
Strap: Interchangeable leather and rubber
Movement: Calibre P.9000 automatic
Waterproof: 100 metres
Limited edition: 88
Price: £20,100, panerai.com
Vacheron Constantin Metiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Dog
Another watch house known for its annual Chinese Zodiac timepieces, not content with releasing one beautiful Metiers d’Art watch this year, Vacheron Constantin is treating collectors with two editions of its Year of the Dog watch. The first is in platinum with a blue dial and white gold sculpted dog and the second is in rose gold with a bronze dial and pink gold dog. The three-dimensional dogs are created using a technique inspired by an ancient Japanese paper cutting technique known as Jianzhi which Vacheron Constantin reinterpreted to include engraving and enamel work.
Case: Platinum or pink gold, 40mm
Strap: Leather
Movement: Calibre 2460 G4 automatic
Waterproof: 30 metres
Limited edition: 12 of each model
Price: $103,000 (pink gold), $125,000 (platinum), vacheron-constantin.com
Ulysse Nardin Classico Dog
This richly coloured timepiece from Swiss house Ulysse Nardin combines two centuries-old techniques, Grand Feu enamelling and Champlevé engraving, to create a lively depiction of a gold dog emblazoned against a deep blue landscape. Limited to 88 pieces, the Classico Dog boasts a 42-hour power reserve and 50 metre water resistance as well as COSC chronometer certification.
Case: 18 carat rose gold, 40mm
Strap: Alligator
Movement: Calibre UN-815 self-winding
Waterproof: 50 metres
Limited edition: 88
Price: CHF 39,800, ulysse-nardin.com
Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dog
The stunning painterly dial on Chopard's Year of the Dog watch was designed for the brand by official Japanese Living National Treasure Kiichiro Masumara. Depicting the Asian Akita breed commonly found in Chinese art, the design is based on the time honoured lacquering techniques of Urushi and Maki-e while beneath lies a thoroughly modern ultra-thin movement with a power reserve of 65 hours and water resistance to 30 metres.
Case: 18 carat rose gold, 39.5mm
Strap: Alligator
Movement: Calibre 96.17-L self-winding
Waterproof: 30 metres
Limited edition: 88
Price: POA, chopard.com
Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Relief Dog
The finer of two Year of the Dog timepieces offered by Jaquet Droz, the Petite Heure Minute Relief Dog is available in white gold with diamonds and a mother-of-pearl subdial or red gold with an onyx subdial. As one would expect of a house famed for its artistic crafts, the dial of this Jaquet Droz timepiece features an incredibly detailed hand-patinated and engraved gold relief applique showing a dog chasing a butterfly in the garden of a traditional Chinese home.
Case: White or red gold, 41mm
Strap: Alligator
Movement: Calibre 2653 self-winding
Waterproof: 30 metres
Limited edition: 28 of each model
Price: POA, jaquet-droz.com
Blancpain Traditional Chinese Calendar
Unlike its rivals, Blancpain has chosen to celebrate the Year of the Dog, not by creating a Metiers d’Art watch, but by introducing a more traditional watch aimed squarely at the Chinese market. The Traditional Chinese Calendar, as the name suggests, features both the Gregorian and Chinese calendars with indications for double-hour numerals, days, months, leap months, moon phases, signs of the zodiac, elements and the ten celestial stems.
Case: Platinum, 45mm
Strap: Alligator
Movement: Calibre 3638 self-winding
Waterproof: 30 metres
Limited edition: 20 per year
Price: POA, blancpain.com