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WATCHES & STYLE
Slither Into this Selection of Year of the Snake Watches
by Charmian Leong
10 Jan 2025
10 Jan 2025
Watchmakers have served up a fresh batch of thematic watches to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Snake. Here are the seven standouts.
The sixth animal of the Chinese zodiac is set to make its grand entrance this month as we welcome the Lunar New Year. In Chinese traditions, the snake symbolises renewal and change, with its skin-shedding representing transformation and release. 2025 marks the year of the Wood Snake, which is believed to bring abundance and prosperity – all the better to indulge in some top-shelf horology.
- FRANCK MULLER SILHOUETTE CX SNAKE
- CORUM GOLDEN BRIDGE “SERPENT”
- VACHERON CONSTANTIN THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC — YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- BLANCPAIN VILLERET CALENDRIER CHINOIS TRADITIONNEL 2025
- IWC PORTOFINO AUTOMATIC MOON PHASE 37 YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SNAKE’
- LONGINES CONQUEST HERITAGE YEAR OF THE SNAKE
You have to give it to Franck Muller for choosing originality over familiarity whenever the time comes for a new Chinese zodiac watch. The year of the tiger brought forth a gem-set tourbillon, the following year featured artist Ryoko Kaneta’s dragon illustrations on every hour numeral, and 2024’s #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard was a fashion-forward sports model designed in collaboration with Tokyo-based streetwear label #FR2.
This year, the brand surprises us once again with an entirely new case shape. Building on the tonneau-shaped Curvex CX case – itself a modern take on the iconic Cintree Curvex – the Silhouette CX Snake features an asymmetrically curved 18k rose gold chassis. The sapphire crystal, extending all the way to the lugs as with the Curvex CX, follows this unique shape, curving in two directions: From 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock, and from 6 o’clock to 9 o’clock – a true technical feat. While the in-house MVT FM 2038 movement remains conventionally round, it is housed in a custom-shaped casing ring.
Gracing the dial is the silhouette of a snake’s body, snow-set with deep green emeralds, with a crown cabochon and snakeskin-patterned calf leather strap to match. This Asia-Pacific exclusive is limited to 28 pieces.
- FRANCK MULLER SILHOUETTE CX SNAKE
- CORUM GOLDEN BRIDGE “SERPENT”
- VACHERON CONSTANTIN THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC — YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- BLANCPAIN VILLERET CALENDRIER CHINOIS TRADITIONNEL 2025
- IWC PORTOFINO AUTOMATIC MOON PHASE 37 YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SNAKE’
- LONGINES CONQUEST HERITAGE YEAR OF THE SNAKE
CORUM GOLDEN BRIDGE “SERPENT”
The beauty of Corum’s Golden Bridge Classic collection lies not only in the distinctive linear movement, but the fact that you can view it from multiple angles thanks to sapphire crystal covering the front, back, and sides of the case. Now that construction affords wearers a view of a micro-sculpture serpent coiling around the manual-winding CO 113 movement, as well as the three-dimensional vines and foliage – all of which are painted by hand. Requiring over 100 hours of work, this piece unique is a wild and exuberant addition to an otherwise restrained line.
- FRANCK MULLER SILHOUETTE CX SNAKE
- CORUM GOLDEN BRIDGE “SERPENT”
- VACHERON CONSTANTIN THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC — YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- BLANCPAIN VILLERET CALENDRIER CHINOIS TRADITIONNEL 2025
- IWC PORTOFINO AUTOMATIC MOON PHASE 37 YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SNAKE’
- LONGINES CONQUEST HERITAGE YEAR OF THE SNAKE
VACHERON CONSTANTIN THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC — YEAR OF THE SNAKE
To set its 2025 edition of the zodiac snake watch apart from the 2013 model, Vacheron Constantin is finally departing from its usual design template of a hand-engraved animal set against stylised foliage on a brown or blue dial.
The new editions still showcase a hand-sculpted snake applique – a process that takes three days – but the scene is now more natural. The sky is rendered in Grand Feu enamel, while the leaves are created using an ancestral Geneva technique called flux-coated miniature opaque enamel. Flux, a transparent enamel specially formulated to bond with specific metals, enhances the clarity, shine, and durability of the final surface.
The master enameller applies enamel powder in the chosen colour using an extremely fine brush, with each shade requiring firing in temperatures reaching 850 degrees C. It’s a painstaking process, but one that reveals very fine gradients between the dial centre and the periphery.
There are two versions in 40mm pink gold or platinum, with the former using ochre tones for the snake and foliage, and the latter highlighting anthracite grey colours. The four windows (displaying hours, minutes, day, and date) are also coloured to match each variation.
- FRANCK MULLER SILHOUETTE CX SNAKE
- CORUM GOLDEN BRIDGE “SERPENT”
- VACHERON CONSTANTIN THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC — YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- BLANCPAIN VILLERET CALENDRIER CHINOIS TRADITIONNEL 2025
- IWC PORTOFINO AUTOMATIC MOON PHASE 37 YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SNAKE’
- LONGINES CONQUEST HERITAGE YEAR OF THE SNAKE
BLANCPAIN VILLERET CALENDRIER CHINOIS TRADITIONNEL 2025
This is the 14th consecutive year Blancpain has released a watch in honour of the Chinese zodiac, presenting once again a Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel with a commemorative rotor. This is, however, the first time it is offered in a platinum case with a green Grand Feu enamel dial.
First introduced in 2012, the Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel was the world’s first Chinese calendar wristwatch, powered by the 464-component Calibre 3638. Seeing as there is a lot of information on the dial side, the commemorative reptile is rendered in a 22k white gold rotor with a frosted finish, viewable from the exhibition case back. Limited to 50 pieces.
(Related: The allure of blue-dialled watches)
- FRANCK MULLER SILHOUETTE CX SNAKE
- CORUM GOLDEN BRIDGE “SERPENT”
- VACHERON CONSTANTIN THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC — YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- BLANCPAIN VILLERET CALENDRIER CHINOIS TRADITIONNEL 2025
- IWC PORTOFINO AUTOMATIC MOON PHASE 37 YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SNAKE’
- LONGINES CONQUEST HERITAGE YEAR OF THE SNAKE
IWC PORTOFINO AUTOMATIC MOON PHASE 37 YEAR OF THE SNAKE
For those who prefer a more subtle nod to the Lunar New Year, the IWC Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 offers an elegant alternative. The dial features no overt reptilian motifs, instead showcasing a rich burgundy dial accented with golden moons, hands, and appliques for an auspicious touch. Powered by the in-house 32800 automatic calibre, it boasts a five-day power reserve unless wound by its gold-plated, snake-shaped rotor. The moon phase complication is exceptionally precise, deviating by only one day after 122 years. The reference includes two interchangeable calfskin straps in black or burgundy, easily swapped without tools.
- FRANCK MULLER SILHOUETTE CX SNAKE
- CORUM GOLDEN BRIDGE “SERPENT”
- VACHERON CONSTANTIN THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC — YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- BLANCPAIN VILLERET CALENDRIER CHINOIS TRADITIONNEL 2025
- IWC PORTOFINO AUTOMATIC MOON PHASE 37 YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SNAKE’
- LONGINES CONQUEST HERITAGE YEAR OF THE SNAKE
JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SNAKE’
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s third zodiac watch maintains the same sleek black-tie aesthetic: A pink gold Reverso case paired with glossy black enamel dials. One side displays the time with faceted applied hour markers, a chemin de fer minute track, and dauphine hands, while the other features a hand-engraved snake nestled within a shroud of clouds. Achieving the deep, uniform color required the firing of five to six layers of enamel, a process that demands years of know-how – a capability the brand is proud to possess in-house, as one of the few to operate its own enameling atelier. The Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake’ will be made to order only, ensuring limited production.
- FRANCK MULLER SILHOUETTE CX SNAKE
- CORUM GOLDEN BRIDGE “SERPENT”
- VACHERON CONSTANTIN THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC — YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- BLANCPAIN VILLERET CALENDRIER CHINOIS TRADITIONNEL 2025
- IWC PORTOFINO AUTOMATIC MOON PHASE 37 YEAR OF THE SNAKE
- JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SNAKE’
- LONGINES CONQUEST HERITAGE YEAR OF THE SNAKE
LONGINES CONQUEST HERITAGE YEAR OF THE SNAKE
Via a collaboration with Chinese artist Wu Jian-an, Longines is adding a mythical twist to its Conquest Heritage collection with a solid case back featuring Wu’s depiction of a snake holding a Lingzhi mushroom in its mouth – a reference to “The Legend of the White Snake” tale.
Titled “Divine Snake Presents Treasure”, Wu’s design conveys wishes for harmony and prosperity. Underneath beats the self-winding L888.5 calibre with silicon balance spring and 72 hours of power reserve, while the front shows off a gradient red dial with the collection’s signature gilt hands and indexes, housed in a 40mm stainless steel case.
(Related: Celebrating everyday elegance with Longines Conquest)
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