By Alex Doak
It’s the turn of the Chinese zodiac’s most evocative creature this new year, and Switzerland is responding with fiery brio
ULYSSE NARDIN BLAST TOURBILLON DRAGON
The creation of a 3D dragon appearing to wind its way beneath the watch’s hands and in between the planes of the geartrain as well as the Ulysse Nardin Blast’s ‘X’ motif presented significant challenges. Over two years’ development this has provoked bespoke adjustments to the case, bezel and ‘glass-box’ crystal to accommodate the rose-gold creature, crafted entirely by hand over four days: three days for the engraving, one for the painstaking application of gradated shades of red, orange and yellow – from the scales of its ripping tail to its gleaming whiskers and its individual claws. €101,800, ulysse-nardin.com
VACHERON CONSTANTIN MÉTIERS D’ART, THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC
An incredible exercise in ‘métiers d’Art’ hand-engraving from Switzerland’s most venerable watchmaker. The dragon symbolises strength and health for the Chinese, both of which are required in spades for this limited edition’s technique of découpage – the art of decorating by glueing coloured paper cutouts in combination with special gold leaf, or other decorative elements. Its self-winding movement is stamped with the hallmark of Geneva, which underscores an excruciating extent of flawless hand-polish, even for components only another watchmaker will ever witness. £100,000 vacheron-constantin.com
BREGUET CLASSIQUE DOUBLE TOURBILLON DRAGON
This timepiece features a hand-engraved gold dragon, whose shape and colour can be personalised as desired. China’s most mythical beast has been commemorated by Abraham-Louis Breguet’s most famous horological invention, with two tourbillon carriages.
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