Set in a 40mm case, the complex and technically sophisticated Calibre 2460 G4 is placed at the service of aesthetics, giving free rein to the artistry of the Maison’s métiers d’art artisans. The evocative beauty of the dial, which unites the crafts of relief engraving, micro-painting and grand feu enamelling, is enhanced by a case of 950 platinum or 18K 5N pink gold.
An Enduring Tribute to Chinese Culture
In 2012, underlining its deep cultural curiosity and openness to the world, Vacheron Constantin launched a cycle of annual Métiers d’Art watches dedicated to the Chinese zodiac. In line with the Maison’s long history of creating timepieces that incorporate expressions of both Western and Eastern astrology, this was followed by a second 12-year cycle beginning with the Year of the Snake in 2024, with each year’s edition comprising two models.
The latest watches in the series are dedicated to the Goat, the eighth sign of the Chinese zodiac, which will supersede the Horse at Lunar New Year in February 2027. With a strong presence in Chinese culture and art since ancient times, the goat has a highly diverse symbolic meaning, encompassing sensitivity and gentleness along with loyalty, honesty, strength and resilience – and especially auspiciousness and good fortune.
These new Métiers d’Art watches reinforce the deep ties between the Maison and China that date back to the mid-19th century. With its early arrival in that market, Vacheron Constantin was instrumental in creating a taste for highly decorated and technically advanced watches among the dignitaries of the Chinese imperial court, driven by an appreciation for fine craftsmanship and rare talent that endures to this day.
Archival records reveal that Vacheron Constantin sent 33 pairs of watches to Canton in 1846, thus beginning a long and close relationship that included orders from Chinese dignitaries. Often produced and sold in pairs, the watches destined for China were designed to withstand humidity and were decorated with engravings, enamel and precious stones. Over the generations, the Maison has continued to create watches influenced by Chinese culture. Examples from recent years include the Métiers d’Art Tribute to Traditional Symbols series, a Traditionelle Tourbillon watch honouring the Qilin and Les Cabinotiers pieces such as the Le Temps Divin series and Memorable Places series. The Maison’s cultural ties to China were further strengthened by its partnership with the Educational Institute of the Palace Museum in Beijing, inaugurated in 2024.
Technical Sophistication in the Service of Artistic Beauty
The 40 mm case of the Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Goat watches is fitted with the self-winding manufacture Calibre 2460 G4, which incorporates trailing hours and minutes, and jumping day of the week and date in apertures. Illustrating the Maison’s expertise in designing mechanisms dedicated to serving artistic expression, the movement was conceived to create an expansive canvas for the decorative arts. In place of conventional hands, a system of four discs displays the indications in apertures positioned around the periphery of the dial. The trailing hours and minutes are positioned on the upper part of the dial, complemented by jumping indications for day of the week and date on the lower part.
The self-winding calibre’s 237 components are contained in a diameter of 31 mm and thickness of 6.05 mm. The sapphire crystal caseback reveals the open-worked 22K yellow gold oscillating weight, which incorporates a polished Maltese Cross. The subtle textures of its decoration complement the Haute Horlogerie finishing on the other components, including perlage, Côtes de Genève, hand-bevelled bridges and hand-finished jewel sinks. Confirming the elegance of the movement architecture and quality of these finishes, as well as the high technical values of the calibre, the Hallmark of Geneva is engraved on one of the bridges.
Creativity in Constant Evolution
Illustrating Vacheron Constantin’s mission to perpetuate the traditional decorative crafts, the dial of The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Goat watch explores a new aesthetic language through the alliance of grand feu enamelling, miniature painting and hand-engraving. The dial is dominated by the three-dimensional figure of a goat standing majestically on a large rock, against a background delicately hand-painted in grand feu enamel. The use of relief engraving for the applied motif creates visual depth and enhances the impression of the animal’s quiet strength while the subtly graduated colour of the enamel and finely detailed foliage lend a dreamlike quality to the background landscape.
The goat and rock are sculpted from 18K white or pink gold (according to the case material) by the master engraver, who then uses the relief engraving technique to create fine details such as the goat’s horns and fur. The texture and contours are enhanced with a hand-patinated finish and colour nuances are highlighted by enamel miniature painting of various details. In total, the creation of this motif represents three days of meticulous work.
To create the dial background, two enamelling techniques are used: multi-coloured grand feu enamel with a subtle gradient from a lighter centre to slightly darker edges, and miniature-painted enamel for the foliage. The colour is applied in layers with a very fine brush and the dial plate is then fired at more than 800°C – an operation repeated as many times as necessary to cover the full range of colours in the design and achieve the desired intensity of tone. This complex process requires two weeks of work altogether. As a final detail, the background colours of the indications displayed in the four windows are chosen to harmonise with the enamelled details on each part of the dial.
The 25-piece edition in the pink gold case is paired with a dark brown alligator leather strap, and the 25 pieces in platinum are complemented by a dark blue alligator leather strap, each fastened with a folding buckle in the same metal as the case.
Questions to Sandrine Donguy, Product & Creation Director
What is the significance of the Goat in traditional Chinese culture and, in particular, the Chinese Zodiac?
Millennia ago, before the zodiac existed, legend has it that the Jade Emperor (king of the Gods) wanted 12 animals to be his guards at the Heavenly Gate. The zodiac signs represent the 12 animals that came to guard the Heavenly Gate, ranked according to their order of arrival. The goat is the 8th sign and carries many symbolic meanings: deeply rooted in auspiciousness and goodness, they include sensitivity and gentleness along with loyalty, honesty, strength and resilience.
The goat has held an important place in Chinese culture since ancient times. Among the first animals to be domesticated, it provided essential resources such as milk, meat and wool, contributing greatly to the livelihoods of ancient communities and thus becoming associated with prosperity. Due to its importance, the goat also played a significant role in rituals and festivals.
Why are Métiers d’Art creations important to Vacheron Constantin?
Millennia ago, before the zodiac existed, legend has it that the Jade Emperor (king of the Gods) wanted 12 animals to be his guards at the Heavenly Gate. The zodiac signs represent the 12 animals that came to guard the Heavenly Gate, ranked according to their order of arrival. The goat is the 8th sign and carries many symbolic meanings: deeply rooted in auspiciousness and goodness, they include sensitivity and gentleness along with loyalty, honesty, strength and resilience. The goat has held an important place in Chinese culture since ancient times. Among the first animals to be domesticated, it provided essential resources such as milk, meat and wool, contributing greatly to the livelihoods of ancient communities and thus becoming associated with prosperity. Due to its importance, the goat also played a significant role in rituals and festivals. Vacheron Constantin’s approach to watchmaking has always been a synthesis of technicality and artistic beauty. The Métiers d’Art collection reflects our commitment to preserving and perpetuating traditional decorative crafts by encouraging their evolution as well as passing on the savoir-faire to future generations. Since our Maison was founded in 1755, we have developed and nurtured a deep savoir-faire in techniques such as engraving, enamelling, guillochage and gemsetting. Alongside this, the Maison’s renowned technical expertise has enabled the development of calibres with special displays that offer a wide scope for artistic expression. Like Calibre 2460 G4, which powers these Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac creations, Calibre 1120 AT also has a hands-free display. By leaving the dial fully open for artistic decoration, the construction of these calibres means that the aesthetic elements of the watches can take precedence over the technical aspect.
