The pig may not be one’s first choice when it comes to accessorising, but these watches may change your mind
We get it, the pig’s rarely associated with anything positive, apart from them being used in mouthwatering dishes. But pigs aren’t actually lazy, nor are they stupid. Far from it – they’re intelligent, empathetic and are more like us than we think. This, coupled with the fact that brands often make it a point to dish out Chinese zodiac-related pieces, is how they’ve have made it onto luxury watches this year. Consider these watches to ring in the Year of the Pig.
L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Pig, Chopard
The artwork looks simple enough, with a lone pig exploring a beautiful, spring blossom-filled forest. The craft, however, is not. For this timepiece’s dial, Chopard collaborated with Japanese lacquer master artisan Kiichiro Masumura. The dial features a varnish made from sap of the urushi (lacquer) tree, which is available in minute quantities, as only a limited amount can be harvested and treated. Each dial is handcrafted with subtle differences that are noticeable to the naked eye. The 39.5-mm watch is powered by Chopard’s in-house ultra-thin movement, Caliber 96.17-L, and offers 65 hours of power reserve.
Petite Heure Minute Pig, Jaquet Droz
Jaquet Droz celebrates the last animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle in its Petite Heure Minute series. Here, a pink pig with brown markings strolls around a wheat field during harvest. The design comes in his-and-hers variants, with 35mm version sporting a diamond-set bezel and lugs.
Metiers D’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Pig, Vacheron Constantin
The list isn’t complete without a Vacheron Constantin timepiece. Building on its Legend of the Chinese Zodiac series, this year’s protagonist is surrounded by flora and a pair of swallows that have been etched from metal. The hand-engraved pig stands in the middle, with little to boast about except its extremely detailed depiction. Two versions are available – platinum with a blue dial or 18k pink gold with a bronze dial – with only 12 pieces in each version.
