These exquisite Year of the Snake watches are worthy of celebration
The Lunar New Year is a time of celebration, doubly so for watch enthusiasts. Each year, the world’s most esteemed watchmakers seize the opportunity to flex their pedigree, unveiling culturally rich timepieces rendered in horological artistry.
With sumptuous designs, intricate enameling, and inspired watchmaking, these Year of the Snake watches embody everything from serious wrist candy to bona fide works of art. As we welcome the Lunar New Year, here are some exquisite timepieces to mark the occasion with both elegance and panache.
Franck Muller Silhouette CX Snake
If you’re a fan of unconventionally-shaped watches, the Franck Muller Silhouette CX is sure to catch your eye. Sporting a case based on the watchmaker’s iconic Cintree Curvex, the watch’s 18k rose-gold 44m case is playfully distorted, thanks to small protrusions near the 2 o’clock and 7 o’clock.
The result is a sensuous timepiece that mimics the slithering motion of a snake. Further embellishing the timepiece is an intricate ensemble of emeralds adorning the dial, meticulously arranged by hand to depict the slithering body of a snake. Completing the effect is a hand sewn calf leather strap embossed with a snakeskin texture.
Limited to only 28 pieces, the Asia Pacific exclusive timepiece is powered by the automatic MVT FM 2038 calibre that boasts a 40-hour power reserve.
IWC Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake
IWC dresses its refined Portofino model in an exquisite combination of rich burgundy and striking gold for the Lunar New Year. Sporting a sophisticated moonphase display at its 12 o’clock, the dial is elegantly harmonious thanks to the generous contrast between its deep burgundy dial and gold hands and appliques.
The most striking part of the timepiece, however, is its movement. The watch’s 32800 calibre, which boasts a five-day power reserve, is fitted with an intricate snake-shaped rotor that oscillates to wind the watch. Limited to 500 pieces, the timepiece is housed in a 37m stainless steel case.
Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake
For the Year of the Snake, Hublot adorns its Spirit of Big Bang with an intricate gold-plated serpent that coils gracefully across its open-worked dial. The snake, meticulously engraved using advanced laser technologies, sports incredibly intricate detailing that adds a bold three-dimensional allure to the chronograph’s design.
Adding to the snake motif is the watch’s 42mm black ceramic barrel-shaped case that features a bezel engraved in the shape of snake scales—a design that’s also echoed on its black rubber strap. Powered by the HUB4700 automatic skeleton chronograph calibre, the Spirit of Big Bang Year of the Snake is limited to just 88 pieces.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Snake
Made to order in limited numbers, the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake’ sports an intricate engraving of a golden snake coiled amidst textured clouds on its reverse side. The serpent, meticulously rendered with black rhodium and sandblasted details, captures a sense of movement and dimension thanks to the modelled engraving technique—an exacting craft that requires over 80 hours of focused artistry to achieve. The Maison also flexes its enameling expertise, setting the engraving against a deep black Grand Feu enamel background that complements the pink gold case.
The main dial is also rendered in pure black Grand Feu enamel, accented by Art Deco-inspired faceted hour markers and dauphine hands. Powered by the manually wound calibre 822, the 45mm is equipped with a 42-hour power reserve.
Blancpain Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel 2025
First introduced in 2012, Blancpain’s Chinese Calendar complication—which allows wearers to track both the Gregorian and traditional Chinese lunar calendars—has meant that the watchmaker often rolls out some of the most complicated and exciting timepieces during the Lunar New Year. This year doesn’t seem to be any different. Coming in a 45.2mm platinum case, Blancpain’s limited-edition Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel 2025 sports a striking green Grand Feu enamel dial that immediately catches the eye.
Just like last year’s Chinese Calendar 2024 Limited Edition, this timepiece features the zodiac sign for the year through an aperture at 12o’clock. Similarly, the Chinese calendar, based on the lunisolar calendar, which encompasses 12 lunar cycles, zodiac signs, the five elements, and celestial stems, is once again arranged across three subdials.
Although the timepiece can appear overly stimulating, its white-gold appliques and hollowed leaf-shaped hands add some much needed softness to the dial. Beyond the hour and minute hands, the timepiece also features a serpentine hand that tracks the Gregorian Calendar.
Powered by the Maison’s seven-day power reserve Calibre 3638, the limited-to-50 timepiece is also adorned with an engraved snake found on its rotor.
Vacheron Constantin Year of the Snake
As part of the watchmaker’s new métiers d’art series, The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac, Vacheron Constantin unveils a new limited-edition timepiece, offered in a 40mm pink gold or platinum case.
Taking a total of three days of meticulous engraving to achieve, the dial features a cobra coiled atop a textured rock. The two elements are crafted from gold and rendered in ochre and anthracite grey for the pink-gold and platinum versions respectively. Adding more vibrant complexity to the timepiece, the dial boasts a gradient Grand Feu enamel background that adds a startling amount of depth, accentuated further by the enammelled flora found across the upper third of the dial.
Powered by the in-house Calibre 2460 G4, a hands-free movement that elegantly displays hours, minutes, day, and date through four apertures, the timepiece ensures its engraved and enameled elements remain the focal point. Paired with an alligator leather strap—rich brown for the pink gold and deep blue for the platinum—the watch is limited to 25 pieces.
Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar PAM01688
Boutique exclusives often perk the ears of collectors and we’re sure the same will happen with Panerai’s Luminor Perpetual Calendar PAM01688, a boutique-exclusive timepiece limited to just 100 pieces.
Striking the eye with its burgundy sun-brushed dial, the watch is the first Panerai timepiece to feature Chinese characters on its day-date indicator. Complementing the burgundy dial is a robust 44mm Panerai Goldtech™ case that’s made from an alloy enriched with copper and platinum, giving the case a warm red hue that accentuates the dial’s allure.
The watch’s perpetual calendar function, powered by the in-house automatic P.4100 calibre, promises precision and ease of use, requiring no corrections until the year 2399. Beyond the perpetual calendar, the watch is also equipped with a GMT complication with a 24-hour display. The movement, visible through a sapphire case back, features two barrels providing a three-day power reserve, with an off-center micro-rotor allowing for a slimmer profile despite its high complication.
