Best Watches for Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is a big milestone, marking more than just another rotation around the sun. Marked by the lunar calendar, the zodiac, and timekeeping traditions that far exceed the realm of horology. It is also a time for family, reflection, and celebration, thus in our opinion it is the perfect occasion to celebrate with a watch. In recent years, the watch world has embraced Lunar New Year as a chance to blend horology with cultural storytelling. From zodiac-inspired details to symbolic colours and engraved casebacks, these releases often offer more than just a new dial. And for many clients, these watches mean a lot more too. With this year’s latest releases landing, we’ve rounded up the best Lunar New Year watches across a range of styles and price points. Let’s dive right in…
Oris Artelier Year of the Horse Limited Edition
The Oris Artelier Year of the Horse Limited Edition pairs one of Oris’s most ambitious in-house movements with a purpose-driven design. Built around the hand-wound Calibre 113, it delivers a 10-day power reserve, a ridiculous yet practical functionality. The headline complication is the business calendar, displaying day, date, month and week: a complication that I would use obstinately. Suddenly, that 10-day power-reserve makes a lot more sense when you think about having to set the complication every time you set it down for a couple of days. Everything is laid out cleanly across a deep red dial that is peppered with subtle and not so subtle nods to the year of the horse. My favourite is the non-linear power reserve at 3 o’clock that uses galloping and resting horse motifs to show remaining energy. A 43mm stainless case and cordovan leather strap finish the package. I really hope to see this watch rolled out in a production model, it might just be what is missing from your collection and mine. It retails for $8,000 USD.
Find out more about this watch here.
Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers d’Art “Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Horse”
Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers d’Art “Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Horse” is one of those watches where it is less about the complication and more about showing off the craftsmanship. Inside is the Calibre 2460 G4/3 that uses using four apertures to display dragging hours and minutes in the top hemisphere, as well as a jumping day and date in the bottom. By removing the handset and ‘normal’ time display entirely, Vacheron keeps the centre of the dial unobstructed, turning the display into a clean frame for the artwork, which in this case is a miniature high-relief gold horse set against the backdrop of a Grand Feu enamel painting. for shading, texture, and depth. I cannot even begin to stress how many hours of painstaking work have gone into those two elements. Not to downplay the technicality of the movement, but it is probably the ‘easiest’ part of this watch to manufacture, which really gives you an indication of just how impressive this watch really is. Limited to just 25 pieces, this will be somewhat of a mythical watch that few will ever see.
Find out more about this watch here.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds
The Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds isn’t a Lunar New Year release per se, but it’s one of the strongest red-dial watches to mark the occasion. Not everyone will want to buy a watch that is relatively limited to celebrating the year of the Horse, so we thought we would add something a little bit more versatile into the mix. This is a very grown up watch. The deep burgundy tone that reads serious and refined rather than festive, but stays within the Lunar New Year theme. This is a design classic, with the reversible case, and it remains one of the most wearable rectangular designs in watchmaking. You can definitely hit several birds with one stone by purchasing this piece. As it is a JLC, you can guarantee that you are getting top notch performance in the movement department. If you are looking for a luxury classic that you’ll be able to celebrate with and wear for the foreseeable future, this is the watch for you. It retails for $11,400 USD.
Find out more about this watch here.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph ‘Year of the Horse’
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph ‘Year of the Horse’ reimagines the brand’s signature 39 mm chronograph for the Lunar New Year. The fiery red accents against the backdrop of the champagne dial look stunning. TAG have done away with the second subdial to create an attractive asymmetry that is almost Studio Underd0g-esque: yes, even the titans can have a bit of fun with their watchmaking. I am a big fan of ‘simple’ chronograph displays that really stray from the slightly crowded norm. In the movement department, the Calibre TH20-07 leaves nothing to be desired with its almost 80-hour power reserve. My favourite detail is the subtle appearance of the Chinese character 马 on the date wheel, nodding to the Horse’s zodiac placemen. On the back, we find the caseback with a galloping-horse motif etched onto the sapphire. Unfortunately for me, this watch is limited to 250 pieces so I will not be able to get my hands on one too easily. This Carrera retails for $8,150 USD.
Find out more about this watch here.
G-Shock DW-5600RRB-4
This is pure G-SHOCK square. Yes, this too is not a Lunar New Year’s watch, but thought we should bring an affordable and festive feeling watch into the mix. There is no zodiac tie-in, no forced mythology, no gimmick: just one of the cleanest ways to wear red for Lunar New Year. Casio has not held itself back with the colour, they’ve gone full red. Functionally, this is the proven 5600 template with an indestructible spec sheet: 200m water resistance and all the usual functions. This is not a complex piece and doesn’t pretend to be: it does exactly what it says on the box. Nonetheless, it is by far and away the most accessible way to celebrate Lunar New Year on your wrist. You find these online for around $100 USD.
Find out more about this watch here.
Bulova Super Seville Year of the Horse Edition
The Bulova Super Seville Year of the Horse Edition is a delightful fusion of cultural celebration and vintage-inspired charm. Bulova re the kings of the accessible mid-century reference, and their Super Seville platform is just that: a modern reinterpretation drawn from a bygone era. The workings of the platform are standard: it’s the same integrated bracelet TV-shaped case and movement that have already been super successful. The dial is very cool. I thought that the stone dials we saw last year were already impressive, but this is on another level. Whilst this was released to celebrate the Lunar New Year, it does not feel limited to the celebration. Yes, it is quite out there in terms of colour, but you could easily wear this on the daily without it feeling out of place. It can be purchased online for $895 USD.
Find out more about this watch here.
HZ Watches HZ.01 Lunar New Year
The HZ Watches HZ.01 Lunar New Year is the watch I would buy this Lunar New Year. It is playful, thoughtful, and affordable: the three things I would definitely look for in a festive watch. To make things better this special edition, limited to a symbolic 88 pieces. The watch is a classic micro brand piece: clean design, reliable quartz movement, and grade 5 titanium all under 300 dollars. HZ’s clean and crisp dial has been given a makeover with Chinese numerals and a gorgeous red strap. The casebackk has been equipped with an engraved medallion with the 福 (fú) character on it, symbolising good fortune for the year ahead. All of the special Lunar New Year elements feel culturally significant and tasteful. I will be seriously considering picking one of these up if they haven’t already sold out and I encourage you to do the same.
You can purchase this watch here for $278 USD.
Bvlgari Serpenti Seduttori
The Bvlgari Serpenti Seduttori is watch that slightly obscures its Lunar New Year connection. This is possibly the most discrete special edition in this list. This latest generation of Serpenti’s are by far and away my favourites, especially with the new automatic calibres. At the midpoint between jewellery and watchmaking, this Serpenti pairs the diamond set bezel with a gorgeous almost hypnotic red dial. One thing I am always smitten by is the bracelet, which would work as a standalone piece of jewellery. Maybe we need to bring back jewellery-esque bracelets back to the wider market. Limited to 188 pieces, this seductive piece will work as a good luck charm well beyond this Lunar New year.
Find out more about this watch here.
Longines Master Collection Year of the Horse Edition
The Longines Master Collection Year of the Horse Edition is a compelling limited edition and a fabulous reminder of Longines’ equestrian connection. Bright colours are not part of Longines’ usual palette, and red could not be further away from some of subtle tones. Despite all the bravado, the watch is surprisingly refined. The sharp gold indices cut a striking figure against the red gradient dial, making this one of the best looking Longines in an already gorgeous line-up. The little date and moon phase indicator nestled in at 6 o’clock add a quiet complication that strengthens that lunar connection. This watch is a thoughtful fusion of Swiss and Asian elements, mixed in with Longines’ own DNA, proving once again that they are definitely one to watch. Whilst this is a limited edition, the 2026 pieces available mean that everyone can have a shot at it. It retails for a compelling $3,400 USD, do not wait to get yours now!
Find out more about this watch here.
Awake Concept Son Mai Frosted Leaf Royal Red
The Awake Concept Son Mai Frosted Leaf Royal Red is another one of the watches in this list that we have added for a bit of versatility. The French brand rebranded a couple of years ago to pivot towards a more Asian image, showcasing historic craftsmanship and techniques. Melding heritage with forward thinking design and production strategies, this watch has plenty of character. The Royal Red dial was released just this year and is finished with a unique frosted leaf texture, brings an almost organic energy to the wrist. The effect is created by mixing silver leaf with Vietnamese lacquer techniques, a unique combination that no else is trying. The case is probably my favourite part of this watch: clean, discrete, and comfortable. If you like a bit of colour on your wrist, I would definitely consider picking one of these up because it is one of the boldest daily wears on the market.
Find out more about this watch here.
