A few months ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year – the year of the snake that begins on January 29, 2025 – Vacheron Constantin has unveiled its Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Snake.
Launched to coincide with VC’s participation at Watches & Wonders Shanghai, these two remarkable 25-piece limited editions – one in 18K rose gold, the other in 950 platinum – feature grand feu enamel dials adorned with 18K gold hand-engraved, hand-painted appliques of a majestic cobra arching its neck upon a rock.
Apertures at the corners of the dial display hours, minutes, day of the week and date, all powered by the in-house automatic Calibre 2460 G4, on show through the display back.
A New Cycle Begins
For the past 12 years, Vacheron Constantin has devoted two limited series each year to a sign of the Chinese zodiac. With that cycle now complete, the company is beginning a fresh series – Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – the first instalment of which is based on the figure of the snake. Symbolising wisdom and renewal, this reptile – the sixth sign of the Chinese zodiac – is believed to bring good luck and prosperity.
The two Year of the Snake limited editions bring to the fore the talents of the artisans in Vacheron Constantin’s engraving and enamelling ateliers. Three days of painstaking work are needed to engrave the snake and the rock in 18K gold, of which the texture and relief are enhanced by miniature painting. On the rose gold edition of the watch, the cobra and rock are ochre-coloured, while on the platinum model they are anthracite grey.
The appliques rest on a dial base made from gradient grand feu enamel, complemented by a foliage motif in flux-coated opaque enamel. This intricate process involves applying enamel powder with a fine brush and firing the dial at temperatures up to 850°C, repeatedly, to achieve the desired hues.
A Canvas for Artistic Expression
The colours chosen for the indicators in the four apertures harmonise with the surrounding enamel tones. The manufacture Calibre 2460 G4, introduced in 2005, powers these indications and its unique peripheral disc display allows the dial to become a canvas for the maison’s artisans.
Turn the watch over, and you can admire the guilloche-decorated 22K gold oscillating weight and the movement components, all finished to Geneva Seal standards.
Art Meets Wearability
Despite their artistic focus, these timepieces are highly wearable. Both the 18K 5N rose gold and 950 platinum cases measure just 40mm in diameter and 12.72mm in height. The case profile is kept clean with buttons set into the caseband for adjusting the indications, operated by a corrector pen included with each watch.
The watches are paired with a Mississippiensis alligator leather strap – brown for the rose gold edition and blue for the platinum model – secured with a half Maltese cross-shaped clasp in the same material as the case.
Historic Ties to the East
Watches & Wonders Shanghai 2024, held from August 28 to September 1, is the perfect stage for Vacheron Constantin to showcase its historic ties with China since the company’s founding in 1755. The Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Snake is the latest expression of this rich heritage.
“Our archives tell us that Vacheron Constantin very early on felt the need to explore Asian countries and establish commercial contacts, particularly with China, as early as the mid-19th century,” says Christian Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin Style and Heritage Director.
“According to watchmaking historian Alfred Chapuis, the manufacture established the jewellery watch on the Chinese market with models often sold in pairs, designed to withstand humidity and adorned with magnificent engraved, enamelled and gem-set decorations.
“In 1846, Vacheron Constantin sent 33 pairs of watches to Canton [now known as Guangzhou] in order to assess business opportunities in China. Over the generations, we have continued to create watches influenced by Chinese culture.”
The two 25-piece limited editions of the Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Snake are available exclusively through Vacheron Constantin boutiques. For more details, visit the company’s website.
