恭喜发财 / 恭喜發財 (Gōngxǐ fācái)
It is now a tradition for a few high-end watch brands to observe Chinese New Year by creating beautiful, decorative timepieces adorned with some symbolic depiction of the appropriate sign of the Chinese zodiac, often using rare, artistic techniques to pay tribute to the eastern calendar.
Part of the 12-year zodiac cycle, according to Chinese astrology this year’s pig is generous, perspicacious, and fun-loving – an excellent fit for a luxurious time-telling instrument.
The Year of the Pig begins on February 5, 2019. And the pig concludes the 12-year cycle, heralding a year of abundance according to eastern mythology.
Contrary to the western Gregorian calendar which uses the solar day as its base unit, the traditional Chinese calendar is lunisolar, meaning it uses a solar calendar with the lunar cycle (29.53059 days) as its base unit.
Since one year comprising 12 lunar months (354.36707 days) is approximately eleven days too short compared with the solar year (365.242374 days), a leap month is sometimes added. As each month of the Chinese calendar (including leap months) begins on the day of new moon, its length is either 29 or 30 days. This means that when a year includes a leap month, it will be a thirteen-month year. On the other side, a year comprising twelve lunar months is shorter than the solar year.
This is the reason behind the variable date of Chinese New Year.
An interesting side note: the pig is a symbol of good luck for the new year in Germany – and not just every 12 years, but every year.
So with that all having been said, let’s have a look at eight special edition watches depicting some form of swine.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Pig
Jaquet Droz has authentic historical ties to China, making this type of limited edition a natural fit for the brand as well as a real feast for the eyes of watch lovers thanks to the brand’s predilections for artistic crafts.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Pig diamond-set and Petite Heure Minute Relief Pig in red gold
The first two variations of the Petite Heure Minute Pig depict a pig in a field of wheat. Both the 35 mm diamond-set variation and the 39 mm non-diamond version are relatively unisex in the beautifully displayed motif.
Making of the dials of the Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Relief Pig (left) and Petite Heure Minute Pig
For more information, please visit https://www.jaquet-droz.com/en/watches/ateliers-d-art/petite-heure-minute-pig.
Quick Facts Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Pig
Case: 39 x 12.23 mm, 18-karat red gold
Dial: ivory-colored high-fire enamel with miniature painting
Movement: automatic Caliber 2653.P with balance spring and pallet fork in silicon; 68-hour power reserve via double spring barrels
Functions: hours, minutes
Limitation: 28 pieces
Price: $30,200
Quick Facts Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Pig diamond-set
Case: 35 x 10.75 mm, 18-karat red gold set with 232 diamonds (1.23 ct)
Dial: ivory-colored high-fire enamel with miniature painting
Movement: automatic Caliber 2653.P with balance spring and pallet fork in silicon; 68-hour power reserve via double spring barrels
Functions: hours, minutes
Limitation: 28 pieces
Price: $37,100
Diamond-set Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Pig (left) and diamond-set Petite Heure Minute Relief Pig
Jaquet Droz Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Relief Pig
The Relief versions of the Petite Heure Minute Pig come in 41 mm red or white gold cases, and the dials of them are exquisite, showing a relief-engraved wild boar in front of eight (!) hand-engraved gold oak trees.
The scene is quite reminiscent of the style of the lovely Loving Butterfly automaton, whose trees are set onto pinions, just like the hands of a watch. While I’m not sure that is the case here, the effect is nonetheless stunning.
The diamonds on the white-gold version are set along the dial flange and on the lugs in eye-catching double rows.
For more information, please visit www.jaquet-droz.com/en/watches/ateliers-d-art/petite-heure-minute-relief-pig.
Quick Facts Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Relief Pig
Case: 41 x 13.77 mm, 18-karat red gold
Dial: onyx subdial, gold pig appliqué and eight relief-engraved hand-patinated trees
Movement: automatic Caliber 2653.Si with balance spring and pallet fork in silicon; 68-hour power reserve via double spring barrels
Functions: hours, minutes
Limitation: 28 pieces
Price: $68,300 Swiss francs
Quick Facts Petite Heure Minute Relief Pig diamond-set
Case: 41 x 13.77 mm, 18-karat white gold set with 272 diamonds (1.16 ct)
Dial: onyx subdial, gold pig appliqué and eight relief-engraved hand-patinated trees
Movement: automatic Caliber 2653.Si with balance spring and pallet fork in silicon; 68-hour power reserve via double spring barrels
Functions: hours, minutes
Limitation: 8 pieces
Price: $79,600
Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Pig
In an annual limited edition called Legend of the Chinese Zodiac, Vacheron Constantin’s artistic tribute to the Chinese New Year is based on the idea of a Chinese paper-cutting art form called jianzhi.
Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Pig in red gold
A motif engraved into the gold dial using a bas relief technique representing flowering foliage stemming from Chinese iconography makes for a lovely background. After engraving, high-fire enamel is added in successively fired layers in a kiln.
The dial provides a calendar in the truest sense of the word: its four windows respectively show the current hours, minutes, day, and date. The placement of these windows in each of the four corners allows the beautiful arts to take pride of place on the dial, pushing the time to a secondary position – as it should be when we look at and consider art.
Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Pig in platinum
These watches are powered by automatic Caliber 2460 G4, which powers most of the brand’s various Métiers d’Art collection pieces – most recently the fabulous Métiers d’Art Les Aérostiers and Les Mécaniques Sauvages. Caliber 2460 G4 was introduced in 2005 in honor of Vacheron Constantin’s 250-year celebration (see How Vacheron Constantin Celebrated Its 250th Anniversary In 2005), bringing with it a technology the brand calls “dragging” and jumping disks, which indicate the hours, minutes, day, and date in small windows in the corners of the dial.
For more information, please visit www.vacheron-constantin.com/en/watches/metiers-d-art/metiers-d-art-the-legend-of-the-chinese-zodiac-year-of-the-pig.
Quick Facts Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Pig
Case: 40 x 12.74 mm, 18-karat red gold or platinum
Movement: automatic Caliber 2460 G4, 40-hour power reserve, 28,800 vph/4 Hz frequency, Geneva Seal
Dial: 18-karat gold, hand-engraved, high-fire enamel, hand-engraved platinum or gold pig
Functions: hours, minutes; weekday, date (all shown in windows)
Limitation: 12 pieces of each variation, available only in Vacheron Constantin boutiques
Price: $102,000 (red gold), $123,000 (platinum)
Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Pig
The annual Chopard L.U.C. XP horological tribute to the Chinese New Year combines arts, crafts, and technology originating in Switzerland, China, and Japan: Chopard Manufacture’s L.U.C XP model with its ultra-thin movement; Japanese expertise in lacquer; and China’s zodiacal symbolism.
Chopard L.U.C. XP Urushi Year of the Pig
To achieve this artwork using urushi lacquer, Chopard called upon Kiichiro Masumara, who holds the status of “national human treasure” in Japan, to oversee the project. The incredible dials were executed by Urushi grand master Minori Koizumi, who painted all 88 of them.
Urushi grand master Minori Koizumi making a dial of Chopard’s L.U.C. XP Urushi Year of the Pig
For more information, please visit www.chopard.com/us/catalog/product/l-u-c-xp-urushi-year-of-the-pig.
Quick Facts Chopard L.U.C. XP Urushi Year of the Pig
Case: 39.5 x 6.8 mm, pink gold
Movement: automatic Caliber L.U.C 96.17-L with micro rotor; 65-hour power reserve via twin spring barrels
Dial: hand-painted urushi lacquer
Functions: hours, minutes
Limitation: 88 pieces
Price: $24,600
Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar
On this timepiece’s busy dial, the Gregorian calendar rubs shoulders with the main indications of the Chinese calendar, which include a traditional double-hour indication, day, month with indication of leap months, signs of the zodiac, the five elements, and the ten celestial stems. The latter along with the twelve animals of the zodiac follow the sixty-year cycle that is central to Chinese culture.
Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar: note the tiny pig where 12 o’clock should be
The depiction of moon phases is a key element in Blancpain’s calendar watches, and this is naturally present at 6 o’clock. Opposite that, at 12 o’clock, there is a small pig representing this year’s Zodiac animal.
Engraved pig on the rotor visible through the display back of the Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar
For more information please see www.blancpain.com/en/category/complications/traditional-chinese-calendar.
Quick Facts Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar
Case: 45 x 15 mm, platinum with ruby cabochon in crown or red gold, five under-lug correctors to adjust indications
Dial: grand feu enamel
Movement: automatic Blancpain Caliber 3638 with 7-day power reserve; 464 components including 39 jewels
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds; traditional Chinese calendar with double-hour indication, signs of the zodiac, date, month of the Chinese calendar, indication of the five elements, the celestial stems and the leap months; Gregorian calendar with date, moon phases
Limitation: 50 pieces
Price: £64,010
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Quero compra 2 relogio como fasso me manda foto de todos relógio obrigado