The Year of the Horse draws near, and watchmakers are unveiling their unique and artistic designs to celebrate the mystique of this magnificent creature. The seventh sign of the Chinese zodiac, the horse, represents energy, freedom, and responsibility, while its sophistication and qualities match the equestrian roots in many watch brands. We present a lineup of this year’s limited-edition timepieces reflecting the Chinese zodiac for 2026, from brands like Longines to Vacheron Constantin.
Longines Master Collection Year of the Horse
Longines collaborates with Peon Art Museum in Chongqing, China, to introduce a special edition of its Master Collection – Master Collection Year of the Horse – which features a red ombre dial. The design pays homage to both the Lunar New Year and the brand’s equestrian roots, engraving Peon Xu’s iconic motif of the Galloping Horse, visible through the transparent caseback. The horse also gallops forward with every movement of the wrist, symbolising momentum and courage. The timepiece is limited to 2,026 pieces worldwide, an ode to the current calendar year.
IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Automatic 42 Year of the Horse
IWC Schaffhausen keeps it sleek and simple with its dedicated timepiece. The gold hands and numerals contrast elegantly against the red dial, a colour that embodies fire and vibrant energy to welcome the Lunar New Year. Meanwhile, the rotor is shaped like a galloping horse, a charming design detail on the see-through caseback.
Dior Grand Soir Year of the Horse
For the Grand Soir Year of the Horse by Dior, the mother-of-pearl dial showcases a magical landscape adorned with amethyst leaves and sapphire flowers. The bezel is wrapped with 70 brilliant-cut 1.48-carat diamonds, centred by two rose-gold horses poised against the mystical backdrop. Only 30 pieces are available worldwide.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel
Jaeger-LeCoultre pays homage to Xu Beihong this Lunar New Year, a renowned Chinese artist in the 20th century, recognised as the pioneer of modern Chinese painting. The brand presents two collections: Reverso Tribute Enamel: Xu Beihong and Reverso Tribute Enamel: Horse.
There are three designs in the Xu Beihong collection: The Running Horse, Two Horses, and The Standing Horse – all showcasing their own stories in white gold. The series captures the horse’s power and beauty, with each dial decorated with hand-guillochage and grand feu enamel. Meanwhile, the Horse collection shows a hand-engraved horse motif on the flippable caseback, wrapped in a ring of golden clouds.
Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac
Vacheron Constantin introduces two limited-edition pieces for the Métiers d’Art: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac collection, with only 25 pieces manufactured per design. The detail unites the crafts of relief engraving, micro-painting and grand feu enamelling, with the horse and rock sculpted in 18K white or rose gold. The craftsmanship creates visual depth and enhances the impression of a dynamic movement, while the softly graduated enamel colour and the painted flora lend a dreamlike background, contrasting with the strength of the horse.
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