All animals in the Chinese Zodiac are equal, but some are more equal than others. In 2023, the Water Rabbit did go down its namesake hole only to never climb out of it. In 2022, the mighty tiger didn't have the proverbial eye. In 2021, the year of the Ox wasn't as strong as one had expected. But in 2024, after a twelve-year hiatus, the dragon is back. And everybody wants a piece of it.
Not just any dragon, mind you. If you're thinking of a fire-breathing, winged menace kind of lizard, you're better off binge watching episodes of Game of Thrones or The Hobbit. The one that's making the world's head spin right now is wingless and has a lot of facial hair. It is the Asian version. Since so many brands are heavily dependent on this market at large, one suspects a desire to rekindle the flame of watchmaking in China with a flight of culturally-minded products.
No need to delve into the good fortune the animal brings, let card readers take care of that. The animal in and of itself is enough to stoke the most intense creative fires. It is beautiful, mighty, graphically complex and symbolically, well you just can't beat how powerful he is. He is far superior to the creative variety the rat or pig eschew. Case in point, only the true believers in Chinese New Year pieces had offered any during their years. But the dragon has everyone in a frenzy to craft.
As these lines are being written, no less than 30 brands have laid their claws on the matter. The sum total of brands involved could easily reach 40 by February 10th, the day when a large part of Asia celebrates the lunar new year.
To be fair, the variety of pieces being offered is astounding. It ranges from a small, hidden symbol to a full-bodied, three-dimensional gold sculpture wrapped around an elaborate movement. From a rotor shaped like its body to a delicately engraved dial. From just a hint of red to an extensive and gorgeous work of enameling. From a few thousand Euros (and pieces) to the unique, high-six-figure marvels.
It does feel like everyone is getting carried away. Yet two trend seem to emerge from this coiled chaos. First of all, the brands most faithful the the Chinese New Year reap the benefits of experience and offer truly majestic pieces. I'm looking at you, Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi Year of Dragon and Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewelry Dragon. The other great possibility that's being explored is the fact that a dragon is a long, slithering creature with an aerial dimension. So brands are making it move and spin, just like the Genus Dragon. So does Jacob & Co., a prolific dragon maker, and The Mystery Tourbillon Twin Dragons, where two 3D creatures chase a diamond-made Pearl of Wisdom. And there's plenty more where that came from.
