Watches

Mean (Monkey) business: Wear this year’s Chinese zodiac on your wrist

Luxurious primates

04.02.2016

By Su Fen Tan

Mean (Monkey) business: Wear this year’s Chinese zodiac on your wrist

Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi

Far Eastern nobility meets Swiss excellence in the form of Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi. Handcrafted in Japan by a master lacquer artist, this new L.U.C XP timepiece dedicated to the Chinese zodiac features a precious dial depicting an auspicious scene believed to bring good fortune: a monkey gathering peaches. This exclusive series is housed in an 18-carat rose gold casing and fitted with a black alligator leather strap.

 

Panerai Luminor 1950 Sealand 3 Days Automatic Acciaio

Part of the series created by Panerai in honour of the signs of the Chinese zodiac, the new Luminor 1950 Sealand presents an intricate engraving of the Monkey on the steel cover of the dial. A unique part of the watchmaking process lies in the sophisticated technique used: the steel is first engraved, then threads of gold are laid into the engraved outlines in multiple parallel layers and beaten until they completely fill the grooves—the end product is an exquisite work of art.

 

Piaget Altiplano “Year of the Monkey”

The Piaget Altiplano collection is known for its ultra-thin body, an embodiment of refined and elegant watchmaking. This exclusive edition exhibits a case of 18-carat white gold set with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds, and a beautiful dial in cloisonné enamel displaying the Monkey holding a peach in hand—a symbol of immortality. Powered by a Piaget 430P hand-wound movement, this unique watch is limited to merely 38 pieces.

 

Vacheron Constantin Métieres d’Art, Legend of the Chinese Zodiac

Following in the footsteps of Vacheron Constantin’s exquisite timepieces, the new “Year of the Monkey” watch bears the Hallmark of Geneva, a testament of technical excellence. Whether you fancy the platinum version with a blue dial, or the red dial-clad 18-carat rose gold creation, you’ll definitely appreciate the higly detailed and realistic rendition of the Monkey painstakingly engraved, enameled and sculpted to perfection on the dial.  

 

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