Timepieces to sport in the Year of The Rooster

Timepieces to sport in the Year of The Rooster
Art for the Wrist: Luxe watchmakers doff their hats to the bugler bird with eye catching pieces saluting the Year of the Rooster

Begin the Chinese Year of the Rooster on a completely luxe-auspicious note as we bring you this trio of handpicked watches created by the masters especially for this occasion

The rooster is the icon for the Chinese New Year this time, and you’d sure want to flaunt something on that very note. So we’ve handpicked a trio of ultra luxe watchmakers that doff their hats to the bright and loud bird with some extraordinarily eye catching pieces, in a smooth blending of Swiss craftsmanship, Chinese lore and a host of métiers d’arts.

Ulysse Nardin

designer watches

The Classico Year of the Rooster in 18-karat rose gold Is powered by the in-house-made UN-815 self-winding movement. Created in a limited edition of just 88 pieces., the 40mm watch is a COSC-certified chronometer that offers 42 hours of power reserve. The most arresting feature, of course, is the dial depicting the rooster in the centuries-old technique of champlevé enamel., with a backdrop of rich copper-colored metallic enamel, recreating the dawn sky. It is achieved using different metallic oxides in the painting process. Ulysse Nardin is one of the few watch brands to continue to produce unique champlevé enamel dials in its Donze Cadrans dial manufacture. Eight blue-centered gold flowers lie at the feet of the majestic rooster, that glows with blue feathers outlined in gold, a white head and a bold red comb. This is real art on your wrist.

Chopard

expensive watches

Behold the utterly breathtaking L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Rooster timepiece from Chopard, which uses sap from the Urushi tree to paint the dial that you just couldn’t take your eyes off. Partnering with the Yamada Heiando firm in Japan, Chopard took harvested sap for the Urushi paining, which can be extricated just once year. The lacquer was applied within mother-of-pearl cells that help enhance the iridescence of the rooster, painted gorgeously in vivid blue with gold and orange tail feathers, with a bed of eight gladiolas round the bird. The L.U.C 96.17-L self-winding movement with micro-rotor powers is equipped with two barrels, offering 65 hours of power reserve. The 39.5mm watch is crafted in 18-karat rose gold. This 88-piece limited edition watch is an absolute collector’s pride, a joy to possess.

Vacheron Constantin

vacheron constantin

Vacheron Constantin’s Chinese New Year special watches come in two versions, meticulously crafted using sculpture, enamel work and engraving featuring a three dimensional sculpted 18-karat gold rooster. While one comes in 18 karat rose gold against a dark salmon-colored Grand Feu enamel dial and the other in 18-karat white gold against a blue Grand Feu enamel dial, the Métiers d’Art “Legend of the Chinese Zodiac” are extremely limited edition, with just 12 pieces of each to be created. The Grand Feu enamel dial of the watch is etched with foliage that is then filled with gold. The hands-free watches, powered by the technically advanced in-house-made mechanical Caliber 2460 G4, carry the distinctive Hallmark of Geneva certification attesting to their superb craftsmanship.

We can bet you’d find it extremely difficult to choose between them. The truly discerning timepiece aficionado, though, would like to have them all.