Six luxury timepieces to usher in the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Snake
2025 ushers in the Year of the Wood Snake, where the element of wood is said to bring in growth and innovation. Here we present six luxury watch brands who are celebrating the lunar new year energy with meticulously crafted special edition timepieces inspired by the snake, a symbol of transformation, charm, and wisdom.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre has unveiled a new addition to its revered Reverso Tribute series. The limited-edition ‘Snake’ model combines exquisite craftsmanship with the elegance of Art Deco design, honouring the animal associated with longevity, wisdom, and mystery.
The watch’s signature swivelling case showcases a black Grand Feu enamel dial, renowned for its exceptional depth and shine, created through a laborious multi-layered process requiring 24 hours of meticulous work. The reverse side reveals a masterful engraving of a snake entwined in golden clouds. This intricate design uses a modelled engraving technique that sculpts depth and texture into the pink gold case metal surface, completed by hand-drawn scales in black rhodium. The process, spanning over 80 hours, demonstrates the unparalleled skill of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares™ atelier.
The Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake’ underscores the Reverso’s evolution from a sports watch to a canvas for artistic expression. Combining enamel artistry and engraving, the watch exemplifies Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dedication to preserving traditional crafts while pushing creative boundaries. Made to order, this timepiece embodies cultural reverence, technical precision, and the Maison’s enduring commitment to horological excellence.
Blancpain
Blancpain’s Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel 2025 celebrates the arrival of the Year of the Wood Snake by continuing its tradition of blending Eastern and Western heritage. This limited-edition timepiece is the first in the series to feature a platinum case paired with a striking green Grand Feu enamel dial.
Central to the watch is its innovative integration of the Chinese calendar with Gregorian datekeeping. The intricate dial showcases double Chinese hours, lunar phases, and zodiac symbols, including the Year of the Snake at 12 o’clock. Powered by the highly complex Calibre 3638, the watch comprises 464 components and boasts a seven-day power reserve, achieved through three barrels.
True to Blancpain’s artisanal roots, the 22K white gold rotor features a hand-engraved snake motif, symbolising intuition and wisdom, enhanced by ruby accents and Chinese calligraphy. Practicality meets sophistication with patented under-lug correctors, allowing adjustments without tools.
Limited to just 50 pieces, the 45.2 mm timepiece is paired with a chocolate brown alligator strap. With its exquisite craftsmanship and cultural homage, Blancpain’s latest creation offers a seamless blend of art, tradition, and technical brilliance.
Harry Winston
The House of Harry Winston has unveiled two limited-edition timepieces to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Snake, continuing a tradition of honoring the zodiac animals with unparalleled artistry. Available in rose and white gold, only eight pieces of each design will be produced.
The 36mm cases frame dials featuring an intricately lacquered snake, symbolising wealth and hidden treasures in Chinese mythology. The rose gold version represents daytime, with a vibrant green mother-of-pearl background, while the white gold model evokes nighttime with a darker blue palette. Both designs feature dazzling gemstones, including emeralds, sapphires, spessartite garnets, and Harry Winston’s signature emerald-cut diamond at 12 o’clock.
These horological masterpieces are powered by a Swiss automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve, visible through the sapphire crystal case back. A pearl-set crown at noon, framed by diamond arches, adds a distinctive touch, echoing Harry Winston’s Fifth Avenue salon.
Each limited edition timepiece is presented in elaborate red cases inspired by Chinese temples. These exclusive pieces reaffirm Harry Winston’s commitment to blending cultural heritage with timeless luxury.
IWC Schaffhausen
IWC Schaffhausen’s limited-edition timepiece celebrates the Year of the Snake with a design that blends elegance with cultural symbolism. The Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake features a 37mm stainless steel case and a striking burgundy dial, which evokes the vibrant energy of fire — a colour traditionally used to welcome the Lunar New Year in China. The golden moon phase display at 12 o’clock adds to the allure, perfectly complementing the gold-plated hands and appliqués.
Notably, the watch is powered by the IWC-manufactured 32800 calibre, offering an impressive five-day power reserve. The most distinctive feature, however, is the oscillating mass on the back, which is intricately designed in the shape of a serpent, a nod to the sixth animal of the Chinese zodiac.
To offer wearers versatility, the timepiece comes with two calfskin straps — one black and one burgundy — both featuring a quick-change system for easy swapping. Limited to 500 pieces, this special edition is a tribute to the intelligence, agility, and resilience associated with the snake in Chinese culture.
Longines
Longines’ limited edition Conquest Heritage watch, in celebration of the Year of the Wood Snake, was designed in collaboration with renowned Chinese artist Wu Jian’an. The special edition features a striking case back engraving of a snake clutching a Lingzhi mushroom, symbolising wisdom, rebirth, and vitality in East Asian culture. Wu’s design, titled “Divine Snake Presents Treasure,” draws from the Chinese legend of “The White Snake,” blending traditional symbolism with contemporary artistry.
The watch is limited to 2025 pieces and boasts a 40mm stainless steel case, a gradient red dial, and gilt hands and indexes. Powered by Longines’ L888.5 calibre, the mechanical movement offers up to 72 hours of power reserve and magnetic resistance that surpasses the ISO 764 standard.
A tribute to the Conquest line’s 1950s roots, the watch combines vintage aesthetics with modern technology. Presented on a black leather strap, the limited-edition Conquest Heritage Year of the Snake embodies elegance in design and cultural significance.
Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin has unveiled the latest installment of its Métiers d’Art collection, celebrating the Year of the Snake as part of its ongoing tribute to the Chinese zodiac. This limited-edition series, available in only 25 pieces in both pink gold and platinum, merges fine watchmaking with masterful decorative techniques. The collection pays homage to the snake, a symbol of wisdom, renewal, and prosperity in Chinese culture, and is underscored by Vacheron’s deep historical ties to China, dating back to the 19th century.
The dials feature a miniature cobra, intricately engraved and mounted atop a rock, with the animal’s sinuous body and the textured relief created through a combination of engraving, miniature painting, and patina. The dials are further enhanced with gradient Grand Feu enamel backgrounds, showcasing delicate foliage in ochre and green tones, depending on the model.
Powering these timepieces is the Calibre 2460 G4, an in-house movement with a distinctive disc-type display, showcasing hours, minutes, day, and date in a hands-free configuration. This sophisticated mechanism highlights Vacheron Constantin’s commitment to blending advanced technology with artistic expression. The pieces are presented in a 40mm case, complemented by an alligator leather strap, offering collectors an exquisite fusion of craftsmanship and innovation.
Images courtesy of respective watch brands, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
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