Best Watch Launches Celebrating The 2025 Year of The Snake

And just like that, the mighty wooden snake is slithering toward us to mark the start of the ever-prosperous new year (according to the lunar calendar). Experts, historians, spiritual leaders, and other wise people are telling us that this year will bring about boundless opportunities for creative and personal growth, new perspectives, and ventures. 

 

And what’s a better way to reflect this time when the creative spirits are roaming free than by launching more than a handful of special watches that push the boundaries of horology and artistry?

IWC Limited Edition Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Year of the Snake

For the year of the wooden snake, IWC Schaffhausen launched the limited-edition Portofino Automatic Moon Phase. The model's dial bleeds the most gorgeous shade of burgundy and reveals elegant golden Roman numerals. Each of the 500 models features a golden snake motif on its caseback which conceals the in-house 32800 caliber movement. This machine, in turn, powers the moon phase display at 12 o’clock, whose precise engineering allows it to follow the satellite orbiting the Earth to a T (deviating only by one day once every 122 years). 

Louis Vuitton Escale “Snake Jungle” Cabinet of Wonders Watch

A marquetry marvel, the Louis Vuitton Escale “Snake Jungle” Cabinet of Wonders inspired more than a handful of “aw”s when it was first presented at the LVMH Watch Week in 2024. Limited to just 20 pieces, the inspiration for this watch came from Gaston-Louis Vuitton's Tsuba collection and his love for Japan. Using a combination of 367 individual pieces, four types of wood, three colors of straw, and two varieties of parchment, artist Rose Saneuil expertly hand-assembled a lush bamboo forest on the dial. The serpent, a focal point of the design, required three demanding techniques: micro-sculpture and engraving by Eddy Jaquet, and champlevé enameling by Vanessa Lecci. To achieve a sense of depth and movement, the white-gold coils were sculpted according to perspective, with engraved V-strokes and Monogram flowers adorning the scales. Every step of this process required precision and careful consideration, as the amount of white gold removed had to be limited to ensure optimal application of the champlevé enamel. Finally, a spray of bamboo leaves frames the upper right-hand corner of the dial, beautifully enclosing the monogram within the embrace of the forest.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Snake

Vacheron Constantin has been launching special editions to celebrate the Chinese New Year for years. The 2025 entry, the Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Snake, is adorned with intricate details reflecting the zodiac animal of that particular year. This year's design features a coiled cobra crafted from dazzling pink or white gold resting upon a matching rock, all set against a backdrop of grand feu enamel. The watch displays its timekeeping functions in four separate quadrants, each possessing its small aperture display – these include hours, minutes, day, and date, all driven by the impressive 2460 G4 caliber. This automatic movement boasts a remarkable 40-hour power reserve and is elegantly finished with a 22k gold rotor.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel “Snake”

Jaeger-LeCoultre's Atelier des Métiers Rares created a stunning Reverso Tribute Enamel watch as an homage to Chinese astrology and the zodiac animal for 2025 - the wooden snake. The immaculately designed front and back of the watch feature deep black Grand Feu enamel dials, achieved through a meticulous process of multiple enameling stages and rounds in the kiln at 800°C. On the reverse, an exquisite engraving of a powerful snake surrounded by fiery flames took the craftsmen over 80 hours to create. The sleek black alligator strap perfectly complements the elegant front and intricately engraved back, with pink gold, and black as the chosen colors for this sophisticated watch.

Blancpain Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel 2025

Like its counterpart Vacheron Constantin, Blancpain has long been known for its Chinese New Year timepieces. Their latest offering for 2025 is a refreshing take on their classic Calandrier Chinois Traditionnel model, featuring a striking green dial instead of the traditional white. This intricate perpetual calendar not only displays the date according to the Gregorian calendar but also incorporates elements of the Chinese zodiac. The snake, representing wisdom and prosperity, is beautifully depicted on the back of the watch's rotor, which houses the reliable caliber 3638 movement. First introduced in 2005, this veteran movement has stood the test of time and continues to impress with its user-friendly correctors for easy adjustments without compromising the integrity of the movement.

Breguet Classique 7145 Lunar New Year 2025

Breguet did not forget to honor the year of the snake. As one of the oldest and most influential watchmakers, Breguet has brought numerous innovations to the horological world, such as guilloché, Breguet hands, and the Breguet overcoil spring. Their latest release, the Classique 7145 Lunar New Year 2025, stays true to their tradition of continuous innovation. The watch boasts a stunning rose gold case measuring 40mm in diameter, but it is undoubtedly the dial that steals the show. Featuring a hand-engraved snake, the dial incorporates various forms of guilloché to create a vibrant and mesmerizing design. The green foliage accents on the dial are meticulously hand-painted, resulting in a subtle shift of color. The Classique 7145 is powered by an automatic caliber 502.3 with a 45-hour power reserve. Adding to its unique charm is the guilloché rotor made of gold, resembling the scales of a snake. With its silicon components providing excellent resistance to magnetic fields, this timepiece maintains the impeccable reliability and precision that embodies the Breguet style.

Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar PAM01688

Panerai embraces elegance with the Luminor Perpetual Calendar PAM01688, a stunning rose gold timepiece adorned with intricate Chinese calligraphy on the dial. Unlike other Lunar New Year watches, this one pays homage to the traditional colors of red and gold instead of referencing the zodiac sign of snakes. The reference number cleverly incorporates the lucky number 88. This watch boasts an impressive array of functions, including hours, minutes, small seconds, day, date, month, year, leap year, 24-hour GMT, and a power reserve indicator thoughtfully placed throughout the dial and movement. With a generous 3-day power reserve and convenient reserve indicator, you can count on this watch to keep ticking for days to come.

Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Year of The Snake

Since 2016, Hublot has commemorated each Chinese New Year with a stunningly designed limited edition of the Spirit of Big Bang. Nestled within the iconic open dial that showcases its intricate chronograph movement is a magnificent golden snake. With its striking three-dimensional appearance and lifelike details, expertly etched using cutting-edge laser technology, the gilded serpent effortlessly captures attention and evokes curiosity. The sleek black barrel-shaped ceramic case features Hublot's innovative One-Click strap mechanism, topped with a screw-embellished ceramic bezel engraved in the likeness of snake scales. This captivating pattern also extends to the luxurious black rubber strap, which boasts a velvety texture and subtle shimmer thanks to an innovative embossing technique.

Oris ProPilot X Year of The Snake Limited Edition

Limited to only 88 pieces, the Oris ProPilot X Year of The Snake pays tribute to the wooden mascot of this year in a rather subtle manner. In the Chinese zodiac, there are five elements- wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. This year belongs to wood, symbolizing growth and new beginnings, represented by the serene cyan color. Keeping with this theme, the dial of this special watch resembles a sinewy snake structure and is adorned in cyan, exuding an air of sophistication that complements the refined tones of its brushed titanium case and bracelet. Hidden inside is the impressive Calibre 115 movement, developed in-house by Oris, featuring a 10-day power reserve and a patented non-linear power reserve indicator enhanced by a golden hand resembling a snake's tongue. The case back boasts elegant engravings honoring the Year of the Snake.

Dior Grand Soir Year of The Snake

Dior's luxurious interpretation of the Year of The Snake, The Grand Soir, portrays the mystical creature in a celestial glow. Its supple white skin, adorned with lavish jewels and gilded accents, slithers gracefully through a blooming tree surrounded by fluttering butterflies crafted from precious gold. With its 18k gold bezel embellished with 52 brilliant-cut diamonds, this timepiece exudes opulence and sophistication. Measuring 36mm, the case houses an automatic movement with a remarkable 42-hour power reserve. 

Longines Conquest Heritage Year of The Snake

Longines's tribute to the Year of the Snake is a fresh take on their classic Conquest Heritage watch. The renowned Chinese artist Wu Jian'an was handpicked to create a one-of-a-kind design featuring a mystical serpent clutching a Lingzhi mushroom in its jaws, intricately engraved onto the back of the case. Limited to only 2,025 pieces, this luxurious timepiece boasts a vibrant red dial with gradient detailing, accentuated by the iconic gilt hands and indexes. The Conquest Heritage Year of the Snake runs on the exclusive Longines L888 caliber, complete with a silicon balance spring and innovative components for an impressive magnetic resistance ten times stronger than the ISO 764 reference standard. This exceptional self-winding movement has a power reserve of up to 72 hours.

Parmigiani Tonda PF Xiali Chinese Calendar in Rose Gold

After the success of their steel model, Parmigiani Fleurier takes it a step further with the rose gold edition of the Tonda PF Xiali Perpetual Calendar, paying homage to Chinese culture. The intricate Chinese calendar includes 24 solar terms to represent the agricultural cycle, as well as complicated calculations for the Lunar New Year's arrival in the spring. While a true perpetual calendar is impossible due to varying celestial cycles, Parmigiani has created one of the most precise and complete Chinese calendars on the market. With a special cam system, the Xiali Tonda PF can run for 12 years without needing to be reset, although it does have rapid correctors on the case for easy adjustment.

Jaquet Droz Ophidian Hour

Jaquet Droz creates breathtaking and unique pieces, and the Ophidian Hour watch is no exception. This timepiece comes in two variations – one with a Mother-of-Pearl dial and the other with an earthy mineral called Sonora Sunrise. The standout feature of these watches is the large enameled snake on the dial, designed by John Howe, the renowned artist behind the Lord of the Rings novels (cue nerdy moment). As its name suggests, the Ophidian Hour utilizes the snake as a key element in its timekeeping display. In a departure from tradition, Jaquet Droz has done away with traditional hands and instead uses two rotating disks to indicate the hours and minutes. The head of the snake indicates the hour while its tail points to the minutes, creating a truly mesmerizing display.

CORUM Golden Bridge Classic “Serpent”

Corum's timeless Golden Bridge returns with the "Serpent" edition, a one-of-a-kind model that pays homage to the collection's legacy of daring design and ingenuity. As expected, all attention is on the intricate linear baguette movement, crafted from over 190 meticulously crafted components. But this time, it shares the spotlight with a magnificent serpent, hand-painted in gold, slithering along its length. The exotic backdrop also boasts hand-painted gold details, evoking a lush and lively ambiance of the jungle.