4 best luxury watches with Chinese characters on the dial: from Hublot’s Classic Fusion Singapore Special Edition to the new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Xiali Calendar, and Bovet’s 19th century piece
Swiss watch maison Parmigiani Fleurier recently opened its first Hong Kong boutique, celebrating the occasion on March 7 by hosting a lunch and unveiling a prototype of their Tonda PF Xiali Calendar teased since January this year.
1. Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Xiali Calendar
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2. Bovet Chinese Zodiac 24-hour pocket watch
Another Swiss house boasting deep connections to China is Bovet, whose relationship with the Chinese timekeeping market runs as far back as the 19th century, when its enamelled pieces made their way to the Qing court.
Not too much is known about this 24-hour, 56mm pocket watch from the 19th century, besides the fact that the enamel dial is housed in a silver case. A similar piece numbered 946 with a movement signed “Bovet Fleurier”, the formal name of the house as it was chartered in 1822 by its founder Edouard Bovet, was a part of the Bovet 1822 exhibit celebrating the house’s bicentennial. The piece pictured above was auctioned by Sotheby’s in June last year for US$3,185.
3. Blancpain Traditional Chinese Calendar
Another of the growing number of watchmakers celebrating Chinese culture includes Blancpain, who has seldom spared us annual editions of this Chinese calendar piece. This may just be the only other grand complication watch that features a moonphase and several subdials indicating both Chinese and Gregorian calendars, all set on a beautiful grand feu enamel dial. This year’s edition, announced in December 2022, is limited to 50 pieces starting at US$87,200.
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4. Hublot Classic Fusion Singapore Special Edition
Allegedly, all 30 pieces were snapped up within 17 minutes, per Crown Watch Blog, before members even had a chance to see what it looked like. Not all buyers kept it for themselves, however, as the piece pictured above was auctioned off for the Singapore Red Cross Forum: “The Future of Humanitarian Action” in the same year, courtesy of vintage watch collector and founder of 2ToneVintage, Ali Nael.
- From the artful calligraphy adorning Hublot’s Classic Fusion Singapore, to Blancpain’s grand complication watch with a subdial showing the Chinese calendar, these watches aren’t like the rest
- Bovet’s enamelled timepieces made their way into China’s Qing court in the 19th century and can still be found at auction, while the newer Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Xiali Calendar shows solar terms