Dragon-Inspired Timepieces: Five Watches for the New Year
By: Xavi Panlilio | Posted: February 27, 2024
Each year, watchmakers pay homage to Oriental culture by releasing special editions to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. These timepieces incorporate motifs of the zodiac animal representing the specific year. For this year, the animal associated with the year 2024 is the Dragon. This article showcases a rare collection of watches inspired by the Dragon.
© Richard Mille
Richard Mille Sapphire Dragon
RM 57-03 CA
The Richard Mille RM 57-03 Tourbillon Sapphire Dragon is the personification of the brand’s special projects to pay homage to the mighty Dragon. The Dragon, a mythical creature from ancestral oriental culture, has multiple meanings; for Richard Mille, it is an example of perseverance, success, power, and strength, making it the master of elements.
Richard Mille joined Geneva’s renowned engraving artisans at Olivier Vaucher to unveil the RM 57-03 Sapphire Dragon. This timepiece marries cutting-edge technology with meticulous hand craftsmanship, featuring a hand-wound tourbillon movement intricately adorned with a dragon motif sculpted from sapphire (Al2O3) and decorated with gold accents and hand-painted details. Limited to just 50 pieces worldwide, each crafted in Carbon TPT®, this exceptional reference showcases the pinnacle of horological artistry.
The Dragon’s head and feet are crafted in red gold, enhancing the crystalline texture of the sapphire and adding depth to the subject. The intricate detailing of the scales was achieved through an elaborate gold painting process. In contrast, adding gold accents to the Dragon’s tongue and eyes imbues it with a commanding presence and elevates its overall aesthetic.
The RM57-03 caliber, constructed from grade-5 titanium and expertly skeletonized, offers a captivating view of the movement’s inner workings, providing a fresh perspective on its gears and minimalist baseplate. This masterpiece of horological innovation and artistic expression pushes the boundaries of craftsmanship, inviting admiration from connoisseurs and collectors alike.
© aBlogtoWatch
The Patek Philippe Nautilus “Dragon”
Ref. 5720/1G-001
The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5720/1G-001 “Dragon” debuted in 2011, captivating enthusiasts with its luxurious and opulent design. This white gold timepiece is part of a collection of limited edition and piece unique models Patek Philippe has released for their new place of business in Shanghai.
This stunning timepiece is adorned with 1648 pavé-set diamonds weighing 9.358 carats. It features a remarkable enameled dragon motif stretching from the dial to the bezel, portraying a majestic five-clawed dragon amidst intricately engraved clouds.
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, each enameled and engraved Dragon is an actual work of art, employing a palette of 10 different enamel colors to bring it to life. Due to the meticulous handcrafting process, each piece is truly unique, with slight variations in the details of the dragon and enamel work, making every watch a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
© Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre Tribute Enamel Dragon
Continuing its tradition of commemorating the Chinese Lunar New Year with special editions, Jaeger-LeCoultre proudly presents the Reverso Tribute Enamel “Dragon” to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Wood Dragon in 2024. This exceptional timepiece not only honors the esteemed sign of the Dragon but also showcases the outstanding talents of the master enamellers and engravers at the Métiers Rares atelier of Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Crafted in limited edition rose gold, each Reverso “Dragon” is meticulously made-to-order, featuring the iconic double-sided design. The front displays a striking black grand feu enamel dial, achieved through a meticulous process involving five layers of enamel. On the reverse, a hand-engraved case back portrays a magnificent Chinese dragon, showcasing the artistry and precision of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s artisans.
The creation of this masterpiece demands unparalleled skill and decades of expertise, reflecting Jaeger-LeCoultre’s mastery of artistic craftsmanship and technical watchmaking. Designed specifically for the Chinese Zodiac Year, the Reverso Tribute Enamel “Dragon” symbolizes a harmonious fusion of cultural significance, creative expression, and technical prowess.
While the design of this year’s iteration in design is not unique relative to prior years, a lunisolar calendar is unusual in the watchmaking world and still worth considering for the novelty of the function.
© Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Dragon
Ref. 86073/000R-B983 | 86063/000P-B982
Crafted through meticulous hand engraving, the Dragon symbolizes auspicious qualities of luck, strength, and health in Chinese zodiac lore. This exclusive limited edition timepiece, crafted in 18K 5N pink gold, reimagines the ancient decoupage technique, blending Chinese and Swiss craftsmanship under the skillful guidance of master engravers and enamelers. Its self-winding movement proudly bears the Hallmark of Geneva, an esteemed seal of excellence and reliability.
The “Year of the Dragon” marks the culmination of Vacheron Constantin’s esteemed Chinese Zodiac collection, a cherished annual series that commenced in 2012 with the rabbit. Spanning a cyclical 12-year period, with each year symbolized by an animal, this dragon edition represents the final chapter of the series. Limited to just 25 pieces per reference, this edition, like its predecessors, is available in pink gold and platinum.
The timepiece is housed within a 40mm pink gold case and paired with an automatic Caliber 2460G4 movement. It is adorned with a distinguished brown alligator strap. The “Year of the Dragon” seamlessly merges familiar functionality with a finely crafted dial featuring a harmonious blend of engraving and enameling. The Dragon, meticulously depicted in the traditional Chinese style, is seen chasing a flaming pearl amidst swirling clouds, capturing the essence of timeless elegance and cultural significance.
© IWC Schaffhausen
IWC Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon
Ref. IW371629
Crafted as a tribute to the Year of the Dragon, this IWC Portugieser Chronograph is a limited edition masterpiece, with only 1000 pieces created. Its dial, adorned in a luxurious burgundy hue, symbolizes good fortune and prosperity in Asian cultures, elegantly complemented by gold-plated appliqués (indices) and powder-gold inscriptions.
Encased within a 41mm stainless steel frame, accompanied by a sleek black calfskin strap, the watch boasts a slim bezel and piston-style pushers, offering a panoramic view of the captivating dial.
At its heart lies the formidable IWC in-house automatic caliber 69335, a precise and robust chronograph movement featuring a column wheel and bidirectional pawl-winding system. Operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, it offers a power reserve of 46 hours. A nod to the Year of the Dragon, the gold-plated open-worked rotor features an intricate depiction of an oriental dragon, adding an extra layer of sophistication to this exceptional timepiece.
If you were born in the year of the Dragon or are fond of limited edition timepieces, you can find your next luxury watch at Vintage Grail.
Vintage Grail has a wide-reaching global network for finding exceptional timepieces. If we don’t already have what you’re searching for, we’ll track it down quickly! Contact us at [email protected], or call us at (+63) 917 159 1211 to kick off the journey. We’re here to make your vision a reality.
