Chinese New Year: IWC, Vacheron Constantin Release Novelties Dedicated to the Year of the Snake

The Chinese zodiac is represented by 12 animals, namely Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Beginning on January 29 next year, 2025 will be the Year of the Snake, marking a zodiac combination that will apparently be occurring in the Chinese calendar for the first time since 1965. People born under this zodiac sign are considered wise, clever and courageous. The Snake is also often described as a sign of rebirth and change, and people born in the Year of the Snake are said to appreciate the finer things in life, which definitely include exceptional watches. To mark the Year of the Snake, watchmakers IWC and Vacheron Constantin have released brand new novelties, dedicated to the forthcoming Chinese New Year. 

The IWC Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake

Limited to 500 pieces, this model (Ref. IW459604) gets a 37 mm stainless steel case, lugs, and a crown at 3 o’clock. The burgundy dial features a golden moonphase at 12 o’clock with gold-plated hour, minute, second hands, and hour markers. Moonphase display works so precisely that it only deviates from the actual orbit of Earth’s satellite by one day after 122 years.

The watch is powered by the IWC-manufactured 32800 calibre with automatic winding and a power reserve of five days. Turning the watch over showcases the sapphire caseback with the gold-plated oscillating mass crafted in the shape of a snake, an obvious nod to the Lunar New Year. Finishing the watch are two straps. The first one is crafted from black calfskin and the other from burgundy calfskin; both feature butterfly clasps. A quick-change system enables wearers to change the look of their watch effortlessly.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Snake

Vacheron Constantin has released two 25-piece limited-edition novelties, housed in 40 mm cases. Ref. 86073/000R-H034 has a pink gold case, lugs, and a crown at 3 o’clock, while Ref. 86073/000P-H033 has a platinum case, lugs, and a crown at 3 o’clock. On an 18 ct pink gold dial sits the cobra on an ochre-coloured rock with golden leaves above it; on the platinum model, it rests on an 18 ct white gold dial with an anthracite grey rock and golden leaves above it. Both are hand-engraved and enamelled. In fact, two techniques have been used for the dials. The first is seen in the gradient Grand Feu enamel for the dial background, while the second is an ancestral Geneva technique deployed for the flux-coated miniature opaque enamel for the flora.

The colours chosen for the indications displayed in the four windows match the motifs of each dial adorned with miniature paintings. At 10 o’clock is the hour window, while the minute window can be spotted at 2 o’clock; 5 o’clock has a date window and 7 o’clock displays the day-of-the-week window. Powering both watches is Calibre 2460 G4, an in-house self-winding movement with a 40-hour power reserve. The sapphire crystal caseback of each watch features a 22 ct gold oscillating weight, adorned with a guilloché motif. 

The pink gold variant gets a brown leather strap. The platinum model gets a blue Mississippiensis alligator leather strap with an alligator leather inner shell, tone-on-tone stitches, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales, and an 18 ct pink gold or platinum folding clasp with a polished half-Maltese cross. Both models are delivered with a correction pen.