2026 marks the Year of the Fire Horse, an astrological convergence that occurs once every 60 years. These are the finest horological tributes we've covered. When the Fire Horse succeeds the Wood Snake today, February 17, 2026, it inaugurates one of the Chinese zodiac's most potent symbols—vitality, elegance, courage, and unbridled energy.
Posts tagged #Chinese New Year
Introducing: Girard-Perregaux La Esmeralda Tourbillon "A Secret" Eternity Edition—Celebrating the Year of the Horse
Girard-Perregaux marks the Year of the Horse with a striking expression of its most storied complication—La Esmeralda Tourbillon "A Secret" Eternity Edition, a watch that channels the Maison's deep heritage through a lens of auspicious symbolism and unmistakable craft. It is a piece that invites study rather than a glance, rewarding sustained attention with layers of historical reference and decorative refinement.
Insider: Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Xiali Chinese Calendar Rose Gold. The Perfect Watch to Celebrate Chinese New Year.
As the final day of the Year of the Wood Snake comes to an end and the Year of the Fire Horse begins on February 17th, there is no more fitting moment to revisit one of the most culturally ambitious complications in contemporary watchmaking.
Introducing: Panerai Radiomir 8 Giorni PAM02088—The California Dial in Mandarin for Chinese Lunar New Year
The California dial is one of watchmaking's most recognizable designs and one of its least understood. Its origins are pragmatic, not aesthetic: a mixed-numeral layout combining Roman numerals on the upper half and Arabic on the lower, developed in the late 1930s to maximize legibility under combat conditions.
Introducing: Louis Moinet Tourbillon Puzzle Fire Horse—Celebrating Chinese New Year
Louis Moinet marks 2026—the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac—with a métiers d'art tour de force that demonstrates why this independent manufacture has become synonymous with artisanal puzzle dials. The new Tourbillon Puzzle Fire Horse arrives as a unique piece celebrating an astrological convergence that occurs once every 60 years, when the element of fire combines with the horse in the Chinese calendar, heralding a period of intense, assertive energy.
Introducing: Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold 'Year of the Horse'—Métiers d'Art Meets Moon Phase Precision
When the Fire Horse succeeds the Wood Snake on February 17, 2026, Arnold & Son will mark the occasion with the sixth installment in its Chinese zodiac collection—a spectacular demonstration of why the La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture ranks among independent watchmaking's most accomplished métiers d'art practitioners.
Introducing: Vacheron Constantin Métiers d'Art 'Year of the Horse'. Artistic Mastery Meets 270 Years of Savoir-Faire.
Vacheron Constantin's Métiers d'Art collection has always represented something more ambitious than mere decoration. It's the Maison's commitment to keeping centuries-old crafts alive, relevant, and evolving. The latest addition—celebrating the ‘Year of the Horse’ in the ongoing Chinese Zodiac series—demonstrates exactly why this approach matters. Two 25-piece editions that transform the dial into a three-dimensional sculpture garden. This is what happens when technical excellence serves artistic vision.
Introducing: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel 'Snake'. Celebrating Chinese New Year.
For 2025, La Grande Maison continues its tradition of craftsmanship and artistry with the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake.’ This piece is the third in a series honoring the Chinese Zodiac, following the years of the Tiger and Dragon. This exquisite timepiece is made to order and produced in limited quantities, showcasing the exceptional talents of the master enamellers and engravers in the Métiers Rares atelier at the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Introducing: Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Xiali Chinese Calendar Rose Gold. Ultimate Elegance in Celebration of Chinese New Year.
Ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, Parmigiani Fleurier is delighted to unveil a new iteration of its Tonda PF Xiali Chinese Calendar, now presented in 18K rose gold. Up until now, this watch was only available in stainless steel with a platinum bezel.
Introducing: Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold 'Year of the Snake'
According to the traditional Chinese calendar, 2025 marks the Year of the Wooden Snake, a year guided by qualities such as wisdom, intelligence, and caution. To celebrate this, Arnold & Son introduces the Perpetual Moon 41.5 mm ‘Year of the Snake’ in a limited series of eight pieces crafted in 18K 5N red gold.
Introducing: Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac 'Year of the Dragon'
The two 25-piece Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac —Year of the Dragon— limited editions celebrate one of China’s most beloved astrological signs. Framed by an elegant 40 mm case in 950 platinum or 18K 5N pink gold, the art of engraving combines with enameling skills to depict the dragon, a supernatural creature symbolizing power, luck, and nobility.
Introducing: Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art The legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Rabbit
Vacheron Constantin is pursuing its dialogue with collectors and passionate devotees of Haute Horlogerie by enriching its Métiers d’Art The legend of the Chinese zodiac with the sign of the rabbit. Symbolizing graciousness, kindness, and benevolence in traditional Chinese culture, the rabbit will take over from the tiger during the Chinese New Year on January 22, 2023. Two new creations, issued in limited series of 9 pieces each, combine the technical excellence of the Vacheron Constantin in-house Calibre 2460 G4 with the beauty of artistic crafts.
News: Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar Year of the Ox
Blancpain celebrates the Chinese New Year with a limited series of 50 watches dedicated to this tradition and its festivities. The Year of the Metal Ox begins on February 12th, 2021, and ends on January 31st, 2022. Housed in a precious 45 mm platinum case, the new Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar bearing the effigy of the ox features an exclusive complication appearing on an elegant Grand Feu enamel dial. Forged in noble platinum, the 50-piece limited-edition Traditional Chinese Calendar watch pays homage to the age-old culture of the Middle Kingdom. The Grand Feu enamel dial of this exceptional timepiece reveals the complexity of a display combining Chinese calendar indications with those of the Gregorian calendar and moon phases.
Insider: Blancpain Métiers d’Art Shakudo 'Year of the Rooster'. Its Dial Features One of the Most Impressive Japanese Forms of Art.
To celebrate the 'Year of the Rooster' Blancpain and its Métiers d’Art Workshop released a unique piece in 18K rose gold with a rooster crafted in the art of 'Shakudo', this old Japanese technique is now mastered by the manufacture from Villeret and six unique pieces have been released in the past couple of years. Based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar, the months are 29 or 30 days long and always begin with a new moon, due to that, a year could have 12 or 13 months.
News: Presenting the new Arnold & Son HM Dragon and Fenghuang. A 5-Piece Limited Edition.
Arnold & Son celebrates the dragon and the fenghuang —Chinese Phoenix— with an exquisitely crafted limited edition. This latest 5-piece limited edition from Arnold & Son combines inspiration from traditional Chinese paper cutting with traditional Haute Horlogerie. In Chinese mythology the dragon is a divine creature signifying power and good fortune, and is the free spirit of the zodiac. In ancient and modern Chinese culture, the dragon is often depicted along with the fenghuang.
Insider: Presenting the New Arnold & Son Métiers d’Art True Beat Dragon Limited Edition. Hands-on, Live Pictures and Pricing.
The latest addition to the Arnold & Son Instrument Collection is the new Arnold & Son Métiers d’Art TB Dragon Limited Edition ref. 1ARAP.B04A.C120P/121P which combines the marine precision of the true beat —TB— movement with aesthetic perfection. Featuring one of the instantly recognizable design cues of the Instrument Collection, the off-centered positioning of the time display at 9 o’clock leaves a generous open area and creates a perfect setting for the exquisite engraved and hand-painted depiction of a dragon.
News: Panerai Presents the Luminor Sealand Special Edition PAM 847. Honoring the Year of the Horse with a 100 Piece Limited Edition.
Officine Panerai is pleased to present a special edition timepiece dedicated to the Year of the Horse - the PAM 00847 Luminor Sealand – with a 44 mm diameter case. The classic and iconic Luminor case features a hinged cover protector with a horse symbol hand engraved by Italian master craftsmen. The technique of engraving is particularly painstaking – the grooves are made in the steel by a special tool called a 'sparsello' before being inlaid with threads of gold. The gold is inserted in repeated parallel layers and hammered until it completely fills the engraved outlines, thus defining and filling out the form of the horse. The process of inlaying the gold is carried out only after the cover has been engraved and polished, when even the smallest error could damage the work carried out earlier, so the work demands remarkable skill on the part of the craftsmen.
Few places in the world can pride themselves on a history and richness comparable to Florence. Emblematic of the Italian Renaissance and birthplace of some of the greatest geniuses of all time, Tuscany’s great city has inspired generations of thinkers and artists who have given the world many works of extraordinary beauty throughout the centuries. The excellence of Florence, like that of Italy in general, is always at its best in the combination of genius, craftsmanship, creativity and technical expertise in all forms of artistic expression. The Panerai Bottega in Florence, the first watch shop in the city, is still nourished by this culture, constantly striving towards its mission of balancing tradition and innovation.
This excellence of craftsmanship and Italian know-how is linked with Chinese culture in the Luminor Sealand. Dedicated to the Year of the Horse, the new Special Edition timepiece is limited to just 100 units and is part of the series created by Officine Panerai in honor of the signs of the Chinese Zodiac. The watch is the sixth in the exclusive series, which began in 2009 with the Special Edition created for the year of the Ox, followed by watches commemorating the year of the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon and the Snake.
The protective conceals the minimalist grey dial which, in the classic Panerai style, features only a small seconds dial and date. This is fitted in a Luminor 44 mm case which, along with the device protecting the winding crown, is made entirely of brushed AISI 316L stainless steel. The movement is the OP III calibre, hand-wound with a power reserve of 42 hours and C.O.S.C. certified. Available exclusively in Panerai boutiques throughout the world, the Luminor Sealand —PAM00847— is water-resistant to a depth of 50 meters and it is supplied with a strap of soft brown leather, a second spare strap and a screwdriver.
For more info on Panerai click here.
News: Vacheron Constantin Presents The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac 2014 Year of the Horse. Only 12 Pieces Available of Each Model.
Press Release
Introducing a fresh tribute in the ongoing saga of the Métiers d’Art collection, Vacheron Constantin presents The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac —a series of captivating timepieces based on the 12-year cycle. A symbol of a lively and independent spirit, the sign of the horse will take over from the snake on February 1st 2014. To mark this occasion, the Manufacture presents two new watch creations magnificently enhanced by enameling and engraving.
Since its founding in 1755, Vacheron Constantin has excelled in the field of precious ornamental techniques and cultivates passionate ties with the artistic crafts that it has consistently promoted by nurturing the transmission of expertise from one generation to the next. This know-how provides the Geneva-based watchmaking Maison with the opportunity to highlight its fundamental values —including of course its constant quest for excellence, as well as sharing passion, passing on knowledge and openness to the world expressed through unconditional support for both native and foreign forms of artistic expression. Paper-cutting, at the crossroads of Western and Eastern cultures
China, a land with which Vacheron Constantin first began establishing a trust-based relationship from 1845 onwards, is famous for numerous discoveries including the invention of paper and also known as the initiator of the art of paper-cutting or Jianzhi. This technique appears on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list and is echoed in Scherenschnitt, the popular art of paper-cutting born in the Pays d’Enhaut region of Switzerland. Sculpted in paper according to the principles of Jianzhi, the animals of the Chinese zodiac provide a remarkable demonstration of the art of using full and empty spaces. A challenge that Vacheron Constantin has taken up and translated into the field of watchmaking thanks to the skill of its experienced artisans. Engravers and enamelers have worked alternatively on this Year of the Horse model, crafted in pink gold or platinum and limited to 12 pieces each, reserved for Vacheron Constantin Boutiques exclusively.
The leaf motif, stemming from classic Chinese iconography, is directly engraved in the gold dial. The pattern remains semi-embedded and stands out from its gold base by a subtle stage-setting of variously accentuated reliefs creating a depth effect. The raised bamboo stalks appear to be floating over the dial. With the horse engraving, on which the details of the mane and coat measure a mere fraction of a millimeter, the artisan provides a tangible expression of the artistic vision behind this creation.
Then comes the stage of 'Grand Feu' enameling, a technique invented in Geneva and which remains the exclusive preserve of a rare breed of artisans. By applying the enamel in successive layers, the enamel specialist further enhances the visual intensity of the blue or bronze-toned dial. The necessity of maintaining tight control of the color and the reactions to the firing process that takes place in a kiln at around 800 to 900°C, calls for a specific way of reasoning that takes years to acquire. A final layer of enamel is then applied before a final firing operation that vitrifies the dial and lends a shiny glazed effect that gives added definition to the floral motif. The horse is delicately applied to the center of the dial, poised as if ready to gallop through the sapphire crystal and thus creating a truly striking effect.
Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac collection owes its superb scope for expressing the decorative arts notably to Calibre 2460 G4. In keeping with its longstanding tradition of offering a broad variety of original displays, Vacheron Constantin perpetuates the art of watchmaking by providing a hands-free display of time. It does so through four windows respectively revealing the hour, the minutes, the day and the date. The first two indications are of the dragging kind and the last two of the jumping type, and each appears through one of the four apertures arranged around the central dial motif. Beating at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour, the mechanical self-winding movement is equipped with a 22-carat gold oscillating weight adorned with a dynamic geometrical motif inspired by the shape of the Maltese Cross, the historical House emblem. All its parts are treated to exceptionally sophisticated finishing that meets the criteria laid down by the Hallmark of Geneva – one of the highest tokens of horological craftsmanship created in 1886 and recognized around the world. This requirement now applies to the entire timepiece, which is duly certified by the Hallmark of Geneva. The 2014, year of the horse model, part of the Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac collection, is endowed with that unique touch of soul possessed by watches bearing the Hallmark of Geneva. With this exceptional collection, Vacheron Constantin intends to pursue its special ongoing dialogue with collectors and devotees of Fine Watchmaking.
For more info on Vacheron Constantin click here.
TECHNICAL DATA
References 86073/000P-9752 - Platinum and 86073/000R-9751 - Pink gold
Automatic In-House Vacheron Constantin Caliber 2460 G4
Movement diameter 31.00 mm (11’’’ ¼ )
Movement thickness 6.05 mm
Number of jewels 27
Frequency 4Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
Number of components 237
Indications Hours, minutes, day of the week and date
Power reserve Approximately 40 hours
Case Platinum 950 / 18K 5N pink gold case
40 mm diameter and 12.74 mm thick
Dial 18K gold hand-engraved, coated with “Grand Feu” blue / bronze enamelling
Hand-engraved platinum 950 / 18K 5N gold Horse
Strap Dark blue / Brown Mississippiensis alligator, large square scales, hand stiched, saddle-finish
Clasp Platinum 950 / 18k 5N pink gold folding clasp
Half Maltese cross
Limited edition of 12 pieces for each model
“2014” engraved at the back of each timepiece
Note: Only available through the Vacheron Constantin Boutiques
