Year of the Tiger: Watches to Celebrate Chinese New Year 2022

As one of the most confident animals of the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of the Tiger is here to spice up 2022 and bring a refreshing amount of charisma, ambition, and optimism to the months ahead. If you’d like a little reminder that’s wrist-ready, here are a great selection of timepieces inspired by the tiger and perfect for Chinese New Year on February 1…

Among the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, there are some that are humbler than others. The Year of the Ox in 2021 is a good example of an animal that’s understated but linked to the positive attributes of hard work, positivity, and honesty. Now, we are preparing to welcome the return of one of the more striking animals – the tiger – whose year will begin on February 1, 2022. Those born in a tiger year can be charismatic and ambitious leaders, but they can also be short-tempered. Perhaps you can pinpoint one such person in your life! Soon we will share a gallery of tiger inspired jewels that celebrate Chinese New Year, here, but for now, let’s review some wonderful new watches that use the tiger as a creative starting point.

Breguet 7145 Classique Year of the Tiger

The detailed dial of this watch was formed using a combination of bas-relief engraving and guilloche, requiring an entire week’s worth of carving and decorating time from Breguet’s craftsmen. Parts of the tiger are coloured using a black galvanic treatment to make the contours appear sharper and more defined. It’s finished in 18k rose gold and set atop an ultra-thin movement, suspended from an alligator leather strap.

Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Tiger

Chopard is once again celebrating the Chinese New Year with a series of 88 watches hand-decorated using the ancient Asian technique of Urushi lacquer sprinkled with gold dust. The traditional aesthetic of the dial has been created by master lacquer artist Minori Koizumi of the Yamada Heiando Imperial lacquerware workshops, coupled with a slimline 18k rose gold case and a blue alligator leather strap.

Dior Grand Soir Tiger

Graff GyroGraff Endangered Species Tiger 

Harry Winston Premier Chinese New Year Automatic 36mm

Piaget Altiplano Year of the Tiger

Ulysse Nardin The Classico Tiger

Crafted using champlevé and paillonné enamel techniques, the dial of the Ulysse Nardin Classico timepiece perfectly contrast the warm tones of 18k gold with a night sky in hues of royal blue. The piece, which features a more traditional depiction of this year’s Zodiac animal, is limited to 88 pieces and incorporates the house’s self-winding UN-815 movement with a 42-hour power reserve.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Year of the Tiger

In what is now a recognisable style for the master watchmaker, this homage to the Year of the Tiger follows in the design aesthetic of the wider “Métiers d’Art The legend of the Chinese zodiac” collection. Two options are available – platinum with a blue dial or pink gold with a bronze-toned dial – decorated with grand feu enamel and a hand-engraved tiger. Both versions are limited to just 12 pieces and contain the house’s automatic calibre 2460 G4 movement.

Interpreting the animals of the Chinese Zodiac into miniaturised works of art is a creative avenue that many brands walk down. Through the subtle and not-so-subtle variations in techniques, ideas and finishes, we can begin to see the distinctive aesthetics of each brand while celebrating the start of the Chinese New Year in style.