We're well into the New Year, according to the Gregorian calendar, but a month away from the Chinese New Year, which arrives on a different date every time.
Blancpain platinum Traditional Chinese Calendar Year of the Dog timepiece with an engraving of man's best friend on the oscillating weight.
The variable date can be tracked on a traditional Chinese calendar, which references the lunar cycle (29.53059 days) as its base unit.
Swiss brand Blancpain aptly incorporates a traditional Chinese calendar in a wristwatch that celebrates the coming lunar Year of the Dog.
The white dial has been neatly laid out to display traditional double-hour indication, plus day and month, with indication of leap months, signs of the zodiac, the five elements and the 10 celestial stems.
Blancpain platinum Traditional Chinese Calendar Year of the Dog timepiece with an engraving of man's best friend on the oscillating weight.
The calendar system associates the elements and celestial stems with 12 terrestrial branches represented by the animals of the Chinese zodiac for a 60-year cycle, of which 2018 is an Earth Dog Year starting from Feb 16.
A little dog will then appear on an aperture at 12 o'clock that reveals the zodiac sign of the year in progress.
The counter underneath indicates the double-hour numerals and symbols while the one at 3 o'clock shows the elements and the celestial stems.
At 6 o'clock, the moon phases play an important role in this model, given the link between the lunar cycle and traditional Chinese months that begin on the day of the new moon.
The months of the Chinese calendar, date and leap-month indicator appear at 9 o'clock. The informative watch also gives the hours, minutes and Gregorian calendar, which uses the solar day as the base unit.
The Traditional Chinese Calendar timepiece bears the design code of Blancpain's Villeret watches featuring a double-stepped shape, Grand Feu enamel dial with chapter ring composed of gold appliqués, main hands shaped like slightly hollowed leaves and blued-steel Gregorian date pointer in a serpentine form.
Available in 50 pieces, the 45mm platinum watch boasts an engraving of man's best friend on the oscillating weight. Non-limited red gold versions have also been launched to mark the auspicious Year of the Dog in 2018.
