Vacheron Constantin takes an early leap into the 2025 Chinese New Year with two exclusive limited editions celebrating the Year of the Snake. As a part of the cherished tradition that spans 12 years, these new creations honor China’s rich cultural heritage while echoing the brand’s long-standing ties with the country. The latest models, crafted in the brand’s renowned Métiers d’Art atelier, feature platinum, and pink gold cases to present a giant cobra.
On the dials of these two limited editions, artistic prowess is evident in the intricate details crafted by master engravers and enamel artists. Their combined skills have resulted in a miniature masterpiece where a cobra gracefully coils atop a rock.
The master engraver meticulously shapes the gold appliqués into either pink or white gold, with each piece requiring three days of delicate craftsmanship to achieve its texture and relief. The cobra and rock are painted and patinated to enhance their appearance, using ochre on the pink gold model and anthracite grey on the platinum version. Furthermore, the colors for the indicators in the four windows are chosen to harmonize with the dial’s intricate miniature paintings.
To create the detailed decoration, Vacheron Constantin enlisted a master enameller, utilizing two distinct techniques. Gradient Grand Feu enamel is applied to the dial’s background, while the traditional Geneva method is used for the flux-coated miniature opaque enamel on the floral details. The enameller applies the enamel powder with a fine brush, firing each layer in an oven at temperatures between 820°C and 850°C, repeating the process to achieve the full spectrum of colors.
These exclusive 25-piece limited editions are housed in sophisticated 40 mm cases and come with alligator leather straps, brown for the pink gold model and blue for the platinum. Powered by Vacheron Constantin’s in-house Calibre 2460 G4, these timepieces boast a sapphire crystal case back revealing a 22K gold oscillating weight with a guilloché pattern and finely finished movement components.
As watchmaking historian Alfred Chapuis noted in his 1919 book Chinese Watches, Vacheron Constantin ‘established the jewelry watch on the Chinese market’ with pieces often sold in pairs, designed to endure humidity and featuring exquisite engravings, enameling, and gemset decorations. This storied legacy makes these extraordinary watches a fitting tribute to the brand’s long-standing partnership with China.
