Lunar New Year: Chopard’s luxury timepiece marks Year of the Dog
Every year, Swiss watchmaker Chopard releases a special watch featuring the Chinese zodiac sign in elegant lacquer artwork for the coming Lunar New Year.
To celebrate the Year of the Dog, which starts on February 16, this year’s ultrathin L.U.C XP Urushi watch features a beautiful Asian Akita dog, rendered using the traditional Japanese lacquer technique known as “urushi”.
The watch, limited to 88 pieces, is the result of a joint effort by Oriental and Western craftsmen – Japanese urushi masters and Chopard’s master watchmakers in Fleurier, Switzerland.
The ultrathin 18ct rose-gold case measures 39.5 millimetres (1.55 inches) in diameter and 6.8mm in thickness. The dial is adorned with an Akita standing in a lush natural setting, dotted with wild orchids and a dragonfly – regarded as a good omen and adopted as a lucky charm.
Japanese urushi master Kiichiro Masumara, a “national human treasure” in Japan, was invited to oversee the creation of the dials for the entire L.U.C. XP Urushi watch series, while urushi grand master Minori Koizumi executed the creation process.
Powered by the mechanical self-winding L.U.C 96.17-L movement, the watch features two “Twin” technology stacked barrels ensuring a 65-hour reserve.
The movement, decoration and finishing is crafted by experts with traditional watchmaking skills at Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier.
Swiss watchmaker’s craftsmen team up with experts in Japanese ‘urushi’ lacquer to create limited-edition watch celebrating China’s new year holiday