As the Year of the Snake dawns, the world of haute horology pays homage to this emblem of wisdom, renewal, and agility. Prestigious maisons like Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Hublot unveil limited-edition creations that showcase masterful craftsmanship and cultural reverence, capturing the essence of this celebrated zodiac sign.
Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Snake
After completing an entire 12-year cycle, Vacheron Constantin embarks on a new Métiers d’Art series titled The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac. The venerable Snake, a symbol of wisdom, mystery, renewal and agility, is the augural zodiac to the series, which sees the maison’s Métiers d’Art highlight its great mastery of engraving and miniature enamelling techniques. With either a pink or white gold dial, a master engraver brings the relief and texture of the cobra and rock to life with meticulous engravings that require three days of work. Two enamelling techniques complete the masterpiece, as gradient Grand Feu enamelling highlights the dial background, while an ancestral Geneva technique, flux-coated miniature opaque enamel, depicts the flora. After successive firings in the kiln, the delicate colours come to life with ochre tones on the pink gold version and green on the platinum limited edition. Given the exquisite nature of the watches, each reference is limited to 25 pieces. Within the watch lies the Calibre 2460 G4, which tells the hours, minutes, day and date through apertures positioned around the dial periphery.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Snake
Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates the Year of the Snake with its Métiers Rares™ atelier at the helm of the limited edition, made-only-to-order Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel’ Snake’. The third chapter (after the Tiger and Dragon editions) of craftsmanship and artistry pays homage to Snake, which commands longevity, wisdom and mystery. An inky black Black Grand feu enamel dial glistens against its 18k pink gold case. Swivelling the case reveals a hand-engraved snake majestically peaking through a wreath of golden clouds set against black Grand Feu enamel that required 80 hours to engrave.
Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake
Hublot unveils its tribute to the Year of the Snake with an ornate serpentine rendition of the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake. True to Hublot’s artistic flair, the watch’s case is clad in microblasted and polished black ceramic replete with a snake scale engraving on the bezel. Given how the Snake symbolises longevity, an intricate gold snake slithers through Hublot’s famed openworked dial around the watch’s timekeeping chronograph elements. A snake scale embossed rubber strap acts as the finishing touch to the auspicious 88-piece Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake.
IWC Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake
IWC Schaffhausen rings in the Year of the Snake with the IWC Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake in a resplendent shade of burgundy. The release follows on from last year’s 41mm Portugieser Chronograph dragon edition, albeit stepping into smaller and more elegant proportions with the 37mm Portofino. Given how auspicious the moon is to Chinese culture, the watch’s moon phase indicator is outfitted with a golden moon that matches the watch’s hands and indices. Flipping over reveals a serpent-shaped oscillating mass for the 500-piece limited edition watch that comes with two calfskin straps: black and burgundy.
Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar PAM01688
Panerai channels its Eastern flair with the Luminor Perpetual Calendar PAM0168 as a tribute to the Lunar New Year with a stellar crescendo of gold and red. Panerai’s famed Goldtech™ case complements the deep burgundy for an elegant take on an otherwise chunky timepiece for good reason. Within the watch lies Panerai’s 429-component, multi-complication P.4100 calibre that controls the perpetual calendar (day, date, month, leap year and year), 24H GMT, power reserve and seconds reset. Elements of its perpetual calendar (day and date indicators) are printed in Chinese characters for a truly Eastern touch.
Franck Muller Silhouette CX Snake
As the Year of the Snake approaches, Franck Muller unveils a timepiece that pays homage to the elegance and mystery of the revered zodiac symbol. Introducing the Franck Muller Silhouette CX Snake, a limited-edition 28-piece masterpiece that combines serpentine allure with technical innovation. The extraordinary piece not only celebrates the graceful mystique of the snake but also marks the debut of the Silhouette CX case, a revolutionary evolution in Franck Muller’s storied legacy of watch design.
Longines Conquest Heritage Year of the Snake
Longines invites you to conquer the brand new year in style with the 2025 limited edition Longines Conquest Heritage Year of the Snake. The already classical timepiece is clad in vibrant red (sunray gradient domed dial) and gold (watch hands and hour indices) that reflect the festivities of the Lunar New Year. Longines doubles down on festive touches with the help of renowned Chinese artist Wu Jian’an, who was invited to create an intricate engraving of a snake holding a Lingzhi mushroom in its mouth. The mushroom symbolises good health and longevity and is seen woven into silk robes and carved into the official sceptre of Chinese emperors.
Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Cobra
Breitling captures the majestic aura of big snakes with a bold rendition of the Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Cobra. Devised as a tough-as-nails companion for fighter pilots in 2001, Breitling ups the ante of its domineering wrist presence with a striking yellow dial. As its namesake suggests, the 44mm stainless steel, 200-piece limited edition watch draws inspiration from the apex predator with a red cobra outline in the nine o’clock subdial. Flipping the watch over reveals the sheer size of the cobra as a continuation from the dial side, with Breitling’s COSC-certified Manufacture Calibre 01 visible in the backdrop.
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our December/January 2025 issue.