As the Lunar New Year begins tomorrow, long-established Swiss brands join the celebration with majestic dragons adorning their iconic timepieces.
Breguet captures the mythical creature in Classique Double Tourbillon Dragon 5345 housed in a 46mm platinum case.
Twirling between the two tourbillons, the hand-engraved gold dragon secured to two barrel bridges is depicted clutching a pearl in its talons. The pearl, according to legends, gives the dragon its power.
The sapphire crystal caseback reveals the meticulously decorated hand-wound Calibre 588N1 with an allegorical motif. The rhodium-plated gold rotating plate is hand-guilloché with a fan motif and the gold bridge below the mainplate features an anthracite galvanic treatment and guilloché-work with a Clous de Paris hobnail motif.
Customisation for a unique and auspicious double tourbillon includes the shape and shade of the dragon, the colour of the Roman numerals, and hands and strap.
A hand-engraved rose gold applique, another dragon also keeps a watchful eye on its pearl on Breguet's second Lunar New Year model. A limited edition of eight pieces, the 40mm rose gold Classique Dragon 7145 boasts a crimson red dial, which showcases mastery in Grand Feu enamelling.
Calibre 588N1.
Founded in Paris in 1775, Breguet is now based in Switzerland's Vallée de Joux.
Jaeger-LeCoultre has been operating in this valley since 1833. Today at its Métiers Rares atelier, enamellers team up with engravers to work on the made-to-order Reverso Tribute Enamel Dragon equipped with the manually wound Calibre 822.
On the reverse side of the swivelling case, the engraver's work begins on a metal surface that has already been coated with Grand Feu enamel. The engraving hence requires an unprecedented accuracy to avoid all risk of damage to the pristine enamel.
Surrounded by golden clouds, the dragon seems to leap out from the background of the glossy black Grand Feu enamel that contrasts with the pink gold case.
The polished surfaces of the dragon's body, the fine details of its scales -- highlighted with black rhodium -- and the contrasting sandblasted texture of the clouds catch and refract the light to enhance the illusion of movement and power. A technique called modelled engraving further enhances volume and depth.
Breguet Classique Dragon 7145.
Like the caseback, the dial features the same opaque black Grand Feu enamel. To create a black of such depth and richness requires five or six layers of enamel, with each layer followed by firing and cooling, over the course of many days. Polishing then renders a uniform shine.
Engraving and enamelling also meet in Métiers d'Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Dragon limited editions.
These two skills have long been cultivated at Vacheron Constantin -- the oldest watchmaker with an uninterrupted operation since 1755.
Each available in 25 pieces, the Year of The Dragon versions are presented in a 40mm platinum or pink gold case respectively paired with a deep blue or brown Grand Feu enamel dial.
A sculpted dragon with some 300 scales takes centre stage on the dial featuring details that stand out in relief against a delicately engraved and enamelled decoration.
Vacheron Constantin's artisan first sculpts the gold dial to create a dreamlike decor of air flow and clouds inspired by traditional Chinese motifs, while a hand-engraved pearl adds a spiritual dimension to the scene.
For the Métiers d'Art series, a hands-free dial provides more space for artistic expression.
Thanks to the self-winding Calibre 2460 G4, the passage of time is uniquely indicated through four apertures opening onto the trailing hours and minutes, as well as the jumping day-date displays.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Dragon.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Dragon.
Vacheron Constantin Métiers d'Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Dragon.
