Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and it’s the bunny’s turn to shine. As the fourth sign in the Chinese zodiac, the rabbit is seen as the symbol of gentleness, benevolence, and wit in Chinese culture; those born in the Year of the Rabbit are considered to be generous and devoted. As ever, a number of luxury watchmakers have rolled out their own unique timepieces as a tribute to upcoming festivities—these are the ones we think are worth taking note of.
Baume & Mercier
Baume & Mercier’s Riviera Chinese New Year Rabbit adopts the collection’s iconic dodecagonal case—a handy parallel to the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Encircled by a polished and satin-finished stainless steel bezel, its 42 mm case houses a smoky grey sapphire dial and a high-performance Baumatic Manufacture movement, both protected by antiglare, scratch-proof sapphire crystals. A decorative pattern of waves graces the dial, as well as gold-toned hands and indices and a date aperture at 3 o’clock. A rabbit appears subtly among the “waves” at 8 o’clock as the number eight implies luck and prosperity in Chinese culture, while another is “hidden” on the openworked caseback, surrounded by a traditional motif that symbolises auspiciousness. The timepiece is yours for HK$34,900.
Images courtesy of Baume & Mercier.
Blancpain
First launched in 2012, Blancpain’s Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar collection sets itself apart by combining both the Chinese and Gregorian calendars perfectly on the same dial while celebrating the corresponding zodiac sign each year. Made from platinum, the 45 mm diameter timepiece sports a white grand feu enamel dial. A blue steel serpentine hand indicates the dates of the Gregorian calendar, while three circular apertures display the main information of the Chinese calendar—the double hours, the day and month with the indication of leap months, as well as the five elements (wuxing) and the 10 heavenly stems (tiangan). Meanwhile, the moon phase is shown in a small sub-counter at 6 o’clock. And where’s the rabbit, you ask? Well, this year’s zodiac sign appears as a subtle duo engraved on the oscillating weight that can be seen clearly from the transparent sapphire caseback.
Images courtesy of Blancpain.
Chopard
Each year, Chopard commemorates the Chinese holiday with a watch in honour of the corresponding zodiac animal. For 2023, the luxury maison presents the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Rabbit featuring the art of urushi lacquering. Additionally embellished with gold powder and mother-of-pearl inlays, the dial itself is a masterpiece handcrafted in Japan by veteran artisan and maki-e technique master Minori Koizumi. Nestled in a 39.5 mm, 18-karat rose gold case, the dial depicts a pair of rabbits, one grey and the other red, with sharp eyes and pricked ears, frolicking under a full moon among Chinese olive trees. It’s a lively scene that resonates with both the animal’s zodiac symbolism and the myth of the moon rabbit.
Image courtesy of Chopard.
Dior
Like the stunning Grand Soir Year of the Tiger unveiled last year, Dior introduces a new special timepiece for the 2023 cycle. Dior’s Grand Soir Year of the Rabbit comes in a numbered limited edition of 88 pieces and features this year’s zodiac animal accompanied by a lucky dragonfly. Neighbouring vegetal motifs, crafted of gold and mother-of-pearl and textured in several stratums, give off a layering effect against a star-studded sky made of blue aventurine. Crowning the 18-karat yellow gold dial is a pink gold bezel set decorated with 52 scintillating, brilliant-cut diamonds that have a total carat weight of 1.3. The watch comes with a price tag of HK$300,000.
Image courtesy of Dior.
IWC Schaffhausen
Also featuring a rabbit design on the oscillating weight, this IWC watch takes the concept to the next level: the rotor itself is already crafted in the form of a rabbit. In a limited edition of 500 pieces, the Portugieser Automatic 40 Edition “Chinese New Year” features a minimalist design that evokes the first Portugieser model launched in 1939—also a Year of the Rabbit. For 2023, the new watch has a burgundy red dial with gold hands and appliques housed inside an ergonomic 40 mm stainless steel case, while its back is highlighted by a gold rabbit-shaped oscillating weight protected by a see-through sapphire. Besides a black calfskin strap, the timepiece also comes with a burgundy strap with a colour gradation that echoes the dial. It is sold at HK$64,000.
Image courtesy of IWC Schaffhausen.
Piaget
Since 2012, Piaget has annually launched a limited-edition timepiece to celebrate Chinese New Year, and this year marks the last zodiac sign in the series. With a limited offering of merely 38 pieces, the exclusive Altiplano timepiece comes with a 38 mm, 18-karat white gold case fitted with a black alligator leather strap. Its bejewelled bezel is adorned with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds that contribute to a total carat weight of 0.71. Its centrepiece is a pair of luminous rabbits crafted in grand feu cloisonné enamel by the famed master enameller Anita Porchet on the dial. This unique timepiece goes for HK$535,000.
Image courtesy of Piaget.
TAG Heuer
Limited to only 500 pieces, TAG Heuer’s Carrera Chronograph Year of the Rabbit features a sleek colour palette of black, red, and gold, with a strap made of smooth black calfskin with beige stitching. Its 44 mm steel case is enclosed by a deep black ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale that recalls the watchmaker’s racing origins.
Bedecked with printed lines simulating rabbit fur, the black dial has a balanced tricompax design with contrasting concentric lines decorating both chronometer apertures at 3 and 9 o’clock. The indices and hands are all gold plated, while the hour markers as well as the hours and minutes hands are further covered with dark red lacquer for a festive touch. Also printed in red, a rabbit figure appears on the sapphire glass on the back as a nod to the Year of the Rabbit. It is priced at HK$56,000.
Images courtesy of TAG Heuer.
Ulysse Nardin
In an exclusive series of 88 pieces, Ulysse Nardin pays homage to this year’s zodiac animal with the special-edition Classico Rabbit timepiece. Featuring a warm tone, the dial reveals a pair of stylised rabbits standing against a mountainous landscape under the sun. Crafted by the watchmaker’s in-house workshop Donzé Cadrans, the artwork leverages a variety of enamelling techniques, including the long-standing champlevé and cloisonné methods. The 40 mm rose gold polished case is fitted with a black alligator strap with a rose gold buckle for an additional elegant touch.
Image courtesy of Ulysse Nardin.
Vacheron Constantin
As the latest addition to its Métier d’Art the Legend of the Chinese Zodiac collection, Vacheron Constantin’s new timepiece commemorating the Year of the Rabbit comes with either a blue- or bronze-toned enamel dial housed in a 40 mm platinum or pink gold case. Its centrepiece is a hand-engraved rabbit made of platinum or pink gold, and exquisitely placed against a background of vegetal decorations.
Etched directly into the metal, the semi-embedded vegetation patterns stand out slightly from the surface—this floating appearance is achieved by uneven reliefs that lead to a depth effect. Four small apertures show the hours, minutes, days, and dates: the hour and minute displays are of the dragging type, while the day and date indications adopt the jumping style. The sapphire crystal back reveals a 22-carat oscillating weight decorated with patterns inspired by the Maltese cross emblem. The 18K 5N pink gold watch costs HK$915,000, while the price of the 950 platinum timepiece is upon request.
Images courtesy of Vacheron Constantin.
