The dial of this 88-piece limited edition rose gold watch boasts the traditional Japanese lacquer art called urushi which combines fine honey-textured layers of lacquer with gold dust. The lively scene on the 39.5mm watch which features a golden rat standing on an ear of corn (that’s a symbol of abundance) and in front of the khaki fruit (it represents longevity) is the masterpiece of Yamada Heinado who is hailed as a grandmaster of the urushi craft.
China was the birthplace of porcelain. So it is fitting that for its Lunar New Year timepiece, Blancpain pays homage to that slice of history. Enter the brand’s first dial made from the shiny and pearlescent material. Encased in white gold, the 33mm timepiece features a pristine white porcelain dial produced via a lengthy drying and firing process. A hand-painting of three rats foraging for fruits on the dial completes this delicate piece of work. Limited to eight pieces.
Limited to a run of just eight pieces worldwide, this automatic Premier watch by the American company prominently features the auspicious hues of red and gold. The eye-popping red mother-of-pearl dial is adorned by a lace-like motif inspired by the ancient Chinese paper cutting. The latter forms the image of a rat and surrounded by a cluster of brilliant-, marquise- and emerald-cut diamonds that have been created from one piece of 18K rose gold.
To celebrate the Year of the Rat, the brand has released four limited designs of its classic Petite Heure Minute watches spanning cases in 35mm, 39mm and 41mm. Each of the four designs features a dial with the motif of the rat with pomegranates which symbolise life and fertility. This model here in 18K red gold features an onyx dial with a hand-engraved and hand-painted 18K red gold relief of a rat holding pomegranates made from rubies.
This elegant model has a simple nod to the rat zodiac with the image of two white rats peering in the same direction on an enamel dial. The luminous dial – the result of using the elaborate Grand Feu cloisonne technique which fires the enamel multiple times between 820 degree Celsius and 850 degree Celsius in a kiln – is the work of renowned enamel artist Anita Porchet. 78 diamonds set on the bezel further add to the glow factor.
The Chinese paper-cutting technique of jianzhi inspired the engraving of the foliage motif on this platinum timepiece. The semi-embedded finish gives the illusion of depth and as if the foliage is floating over the intensely-hued blue enamel dial. The main attraction of the timepiece, meanwhile, is the hand-engraved rat perched on the middle of the dial, unobstructed from any hour and minute hands. FYI, time is read through the hour, minute, day and date counters at the four corners of the dial. Numbered to just 12 pieces, the brand has another version of this design in pink gold.