Chinese New Year which starts on February 8th, 2016, will be the Year of the Monkey, and to celebrate this, Chopard has dedicated a new series of its magnificent watches to this animal. Depicting the popular scene, which is believed to bring good luck and is derived from the Chinese iconography, the timepiece features a monkey gathering peaches.
Chopard’s Monkey Watch
For more than 1,000 years, the monkey of the Chinese zodiac calendar has conveyed positive symbolism. People born in the Year of the Monkey are considered smart, curious and drawn to knowledge. They are cultivated, inventive as well as creative. It is an ‘earth’ sign associated with good sense. Stubborn yet charming, the monkey loves to perform for an audience and is endowed with great self-esteem. The monkey gathering eight peaches is a traditional Chinese theme that symbolises longevity and good fortune, since the peach stands for good health and eight is a lucky number.
Chopard’s Monkey Watch
In the interpretation chosen by Chopard, a red-coated monkey is perched on a branch laden with fruit. It is gathering peaches beneath a golden sky ablaze with the last rays of the sun. Behind it, golden valleys compose a warm scene in soft tones that make a perfect match with the rose gold of the case.
The traditional Japanese artwork known as Urushi is created using a special Urushi lacquer that comes from the sap of the “lacquer” or “Japanese varnish” tree.
Chopard’s Monkey Watch
The Urushi master uses this fine lacquer to imprison gold dust motifs created using the extraordinarily meticulous Maki-e technique. Each of these delicate gestures is performed exclusively by experienced masters of this exceptional skill.
Fitted with a black alligator leather strap, Chopard’s Monkey watch comes in a special presentation box also decorated using Urushi techniques. Black on the outside and gold Maki-e inside, it is shaped like an octagon, an oriental symbol of gaiety.
Chopard’s Monkey Watch
