Here are 5 'Year of the Monkey' watches from 5 different watchmakers that reinterpret one of the smartest members of the animal kingdom in their own stylish and elegant ways.
This Chinese New Year is the Monkey's year to shine as it gets its cue call from the 12-year zodiac cycle.
Watchmakers have long loved crafting tribute timepieces to each zodiac animal of the year and this year is no different.
Here are 5 'Year of the Monkey' special edition watches from 5 different watchmakers that reinterpret one of the smartest members of the animal kingdom in their own stylish and elegant ways.
Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi 'Year of the Monkey'
Chopard's creation depicts a monkey with its arm outstretched, seemingly in the midst of plucking a peach. The true wonder of the timepiece is in how the picture is created -- by means of Chopard's now famed urushi methods that utilises varnish made of the precious urushi tree sap. Its rarity lies in how the sap is produced only enough to be harvested once a year, before being painstakingly layered by hand onto the face of each timepiece to form the brilliant colours and crisp lines. Learn more here.
Harry Winston Premier Monkey Automatic
Harry Winston is borrowing the ancient Chinese artform of papercutting, or 'jianzhi', for its Year of the Monkey timepiece. A monkey is created in gold in the delicate open-work style, appearing to be scaling the sides of the watch. As if the 57 diamonds encrusting the bezel (not to mention the single emerald-cut diamond the monkey has its tail twirled around at the 12 o'clock position) aren't dazzling enough, the graceful creature is also set against a stunning pink mother-of-pearl speckled with 24 karat gold flecks for a true touch of luxe. Read more here.
Ulysse Nardin Classico 'Year of the Monkey'
Ulysse Nardin chose to bring its monkey to life in a watch marked by the highly technical champlevé technique where cells are carved with a chisel directly onto the dial filled with enamel. The layering and colouring of the enamel itself are no easy feats, generated via different metallic oxides meticulously arranged and then fired until melted. This means a single mistake by the engraver will be an immensely costly one, which could be why this Ulysse Nardin timepiece is limited to only 88 pieces worldwide. Discover more here.
Piaget Altiplano 'Year of the Monkey'
Piaget's monkey is created by hand by its master enameler Anita Porchet in the cloisonne enamelling technique, where gold wires are arranged on the dial and then filled with enamel by the compartment. The result is an exceptional imagery of a monkey with a peach in hand backdropped against a beautiful winter white sky and framed by 78 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel. This work of art is limited to only 38 numbered pieces worldwide. Find out more here.
Blancpain Traditional Chinese 'Year of the Monkey' Calendar
Quite the opposite of all the other watches that feature imageries of the animal on the dial, Blancpain is taking a more subtle path by having its monkey adorn the back of the watch. But what truly stands this timepiece apart is its special Calender that tracks the traditional Chinese lunisolar calender instead of the typical Gregorian calender. This 36-piece limited edition watch is equipped with a white gold oscillating weight, set with a Madagascar ruby . It is also available in a non-limited red gold version. Learn more here.
(Photos: Respective brands)
The beauty world is also paying tribute to the monkey: Giorgio Armani Beauty has a special palette for the year.