Watches to celebrate the Lunar New Year

By Kim Parker

Growing up in China, I was taught never to give a clock as a present during Chinese New Year (also called the Lunar New Year) because the words ‘to give a clock’ also sound like the words for attending someone’s funeral. But watches, it seems, are another matter entirely. In recent years, the annual New Year celebration has become an occasion for some serious indulgence and luxury gifting – in 2021, it was estimated that Chinese consumers spent US$127 billion at shops and restaurants over the seven-day new year holiday period, up almost 30% from the Covid 19-stricken year before. Keen to capitalise on this annual spending spree, luxury watchmakers are increasingly offering special Zodiac-themed timepieces, with limited-edition dials and graphics that pay homage to the animals of the traditional Chinese calendar.

With the advent of the Year of the Rabbit in 2023, a plethora of bunny-themed watches are springing up to tempt watch lovers over the holidays. Here are some of the best….

TAG Heuer

Sleek yet sporty, this limited-edition steel chronograph boasts red and golden accents (considered lucky colours in China) as well as stripy grey lines on its custom-designed dial, to represent the texture of a rabbit’s fur.

Flip it over, and there’s a red bunny on its caseback, too. Only 500 will be available.

Dior

Just 88 of Dior’s latest limited-edition watch will be hopping into boutiques this Lunar New Year (the number 8 is considered lucky in China). The 36mm automatic timepiece boasts a pink gold bezel set with 52 brilliant-cut white diamonds, an aventurine dial layered with a mother-of-pearl and 18k yellow gold Toile de Jouy design of a rabbit beneath a tree. Its beige satin strap is a nod to the ribbons used by Mr. Dior in his couture atelier, and holds a buckle adorned with a further 18 diamonds.

Blancpain

In 2012, Blancpain began issuing special editions of its Villeret watches that incorporated the traditional Chinese calendar. Each of the 50 limited edition pieces is crafted in platinum, and features the main indications of the Chinese calendar on its dial. Meanwhile, its white gold oscillating weight, visible through the sapphire caseback, honours the animal of the year with an engraved design. This year, the watch features a pair of rabbits, representing gentleness and trust.

Vacheron Constantin

Available in either platinum or pink gold, this limited-edition watch features a dial that nods to the ancient Chinese art of Jianzhi paper cutting.

Its decorative rabbit and floral motif has been hand-engraved and enamelled by master craftsmen in blue or bronze, creating a beautiful focus for the hands-free display. Rather than hands, four separate apertures reveal the hours, minutes, day and date.

Piaget

Fans of Piaget’s ultra refined Altiplano watches will adore this limited edition timepiece for the Lunar New Year (only 38 will be made), featuring a pair of white rabbits sweetly rendered in Grand Feu cloisonné enamel by master enameller, Anita Porchet. The 18k white gold case is also set with 78 brilliant-cut white diamonds, for extra sparkle.

Breguet

Adorned with six leaping and frolicking rabbits, Breguet’s new limited-edition timepiece riffs on the playfulness of 2023’s lunar new year animal. The designs have been hand-engraved onto an 18k white gold dial, and enamelled with two different glazes. Aside from the leaping rabbits, the dial also features spring blossoms, fluffy clouds and stalks of lucky bamboo.

Harry Winston

Accented with the auspicious colour red, this precious rose gold watch depicts the Chinese legend of the Jade Rabbit, in which a self-sacrificing rabbit is granted eternal life on the Moon for a good deed. The dial is crafted from beaded mother-of-pearl, and features an 18k gold rabbit wearing Harry Winston’s signature diamonds – brilliant cut white diamonds for its eye and tail and four sparkling marquise-cut stones forming a bow around its neck.

Ulysse Nardin is celebrating the Year of the Rabbit with this limited-edition 40mm timepiece (only 88 will be made, with 8 being an auspicious number in China). Each uses centuries-old champlevé and cloisonné methods of enamelling to render a pair of rabbits gazing into the dawn of a fresh new year.

Like this? Discover more of the best luxury watches to gift this year