A pig may not be your first choice of decorative motif, but these adorable, beautifully crafted Year of the Pig watches will win you over.

A pig may not be your first choice of decorative motif, but these adorable, beautifully crafted Year of the Pig watches will win you over

VACHERON CONSTANTIN

In two iterations—platinum case with blue grand feu enamel dial, or pink-gold case with bronzetoned enamel dial—the Métiers d’art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Pig watch features an elegantly sculpted pig (in the same material as the case) taking pride of place at the centre of the dial. The handsfree reading displays the hours, minutes, day and date via four apertures, while a transparent caseback reveals the beauty of the Calibre 2460 G4 movement and gold Maltese cross oscillating weight.

CHOPARD

Another auspicious 88-piece limited edition, Chopard’s LUC XP Urushi Year of the Pig is powered by an ultrathin automatic movement driven by a gold micro rotor, all visible through the transparent caseback. But it’s the dial that’s the star here, picturing a pig romping in a blossom-filled forest, rendered in ultra-rare urushi lacquer under the auspices of legendary Japanese artisan and “living national treasure” Kiichiro Masumura.

JAQUET DROZ

It makes perfect sense for Jaquet Droz, a house synonymous with artistic, creative riffs on the natural world, to celebrate Chinese New Year with a pair of his-and-hers timepieces (in 39mm and 35mm cases, the latter boasting a diamond bezel) picturing summery wheat fields occupied by a plump porker that—like those born in the Year of the Pig—remains calm and thoughtful amid prosperity and abundance.

PANERAI

As you’re doubtless aware, eight is considered the luckiest number in Chinese culture. Hence Panerai’s decision to issue the latest in its series of watches celebrating the Chinese zodiac’s annual animal of honour in a limited edition of 88 pieces. The brushedsteel Luminor Sealand 44mm’s hunter-style cover has been painstakingly hand-engraved with the ancient Italian sparsello technique to inlay a Chinoiserie-styled pig design in delicate gold.

HARRY WINSTON

Reflecting the warm, vivacious nature of those born in the Year of the Pig, Harry Winston’s commemorative Premier Automatic 36mm timepiece is cased in diamond-studded rose gold and features a vivid red mother-of-pearl dial redolent of the national flag. The pearl marquetry pig motif occupying the six o’clock position integrates elements of the magnolia flower, which symbolised feminine beauty and grace in ancient China.

PIAGET

Piaget has presented a Chinese zodiac watch marking each year since 2012, and continues the tradition in the Year of the Pig with a 38mm, white-gold Altiplano set with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds and powered by one of the manufacture’s signature ultra-thin mechanical manualwinding movements. The watch’s grand feu cloisonné enamel dial carries an artfully rendered image of a pig, created by master enameller Anita Porchet.