Luxury watches that mark the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse

We look at watches from Arnold & Son, IWC Schaffhausen, Longines, Oris, and Vacheron Constantin.

January 15, 2026

The Chinese Year of the Fire Horse is the next sign in the Chinese zodiac; it replaces the Wood Snake on 17 February 2026. Several watch brands have unveiled watches to mark this event, a significant event in the Chinese calendar. We look at five watches from across the horological spectrum.

Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Horse”

Image: *“Miniature painting, three-dimensional engraving, fine stonework and the refined finishing of an astronomical moon-phase calibre: the* *Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Horse”* *tells a tale of excellence, symbolism and vital energy.”*

The Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Horse” showcases a black aventurine glass dial. The lower portion represents the landscape; hand painted with gold powder and treated with Super-LumiNova. The giant moon is crafted from a mother-of-pearl disc and treated with Super-LumiNova. The hand painted constellations on the lunar disc –“Cassiopeia and Ursa Major” – are treated with Super-LumiNova. The hand engraved horse is made from 18K red gold (5N).

It is housed in a 41.5 mm 18K red gold (5N) case, and is powered by A&S1512, an in-house manual winding movement that drives the hours, minutes, and precision moon-phase display on both the dial side and caseback. Power reserve: 90 hours.

Name: Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Horse.” Reference: 1GLBR.Z11A.C1293A. Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 62,600 (including VAT). Limited edition of 8 pieces.

Also Read: Arnold & Son celebrates Chinese New Year with a new watch

IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Automatic 42 Year of the Horse

Image: The burgundy dial is *“inspired by the auspicious red tones widely used in Lunar New Year celebrations.”* The shade of burgundy on the snailed subdials is a bit lighter. The power reserve display subdial at 3 o’clock features a motif of a galloping horse, and the gold-plated automatic winding rotor is shaped like a galloping horse.

The Portugieser Automatic 42 Year of the Horse celebrates Chinese New Year using the Portugieser Automatic 42 as a base. With its horizontal subdial layout for small seconds and power reserve display – it is among IWC Schaffhausen’s most iconic references. Its burgundy-coloured dial features gold-plated hands and applied gold Arabic numerals and hour-markers, snailed subdials, and a railway track hour and minute scale.

It is housed in a 42.4 mm stainless steel case, and is powered by IWC-manufactured calibre 52001, an automatic movement that drives the hours, minutes, small seconds with stop seconds function, date, and power reserve display. Power reserve: 168 hours or 7 days.

Name: Portugieser Automatic 42 Year of the Horse. Reference: IW501709. Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 13,000 / United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) 56,800. Limited edition of 500 pieces.

Also Read: IWC Schaffhausen welcomes the Chinese Lunar New Year

Longines Master Collection Year of the Horse Edition

Image: The sunburst red gradient dial suits this “simple no-nonsense” watch well. I love the incorporation of the moon-phase display with pointer date at 6 o’clock. (Image credit: Longines website.)

The Master Collection Year of the Horse Edition showcases a sunburst red gradient dial. It features gilt hands, and applied hour-markers. The blue sky of the moon-phase display at 6 o’clock contrasts well with the dial. The outer flange features an hour and minute scale.

It is housed in a 42 mm stainless steel case, and is powered by L899, an automatic movement that drives the hours, minutes, seconds, moon-phase display, and pointer date. The automatic winding rotor has an engraving of a galloping horse. Power reserve: 72 hours (approximately).

Name: Master Collection Year of the Horse Edition. Reference: L2.919.4.09.2. Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 2,650. Limited edition of 2,026 pieces.

Oris Year of the Horse Limited Edition

Image: The week and month are placed adjacent to each other and indicated by the same central hand. The *“non-linear”* power reserve subdial at 3 o’clock features two horse motifs – the galloping horse indicates when the movement is fully wound, and the sitting horse when the power reserve has depleted.

The Year of the Horse Limited Edition celebrates Chinese New Year with a watch from the brand’s Arterial collection that features a business calendar complication. Its dial showcases a deep red dial with fiery red hues on both the subdials. The hour and minute hands are coated with Super-LumiNova, and the hour-markers – both Arabic numerals and baton shaped indices – are applied on the dial.

It is housed in a 43 mm multi-piece stainless steel case and is powered by Oris Calibre 113, a hand-wound “high-concept” in-house movement. It drives the hours, minutes, seconds, calendar functions, power reserve indicator, and stop-seconds function. Power reserve: 240 hours or 10 days.

Name: Year of the Horse Limited Edition. Reference: 01 113 7806 4088-Set. Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 6,650. Limited edition of 88 numbered pieces.

Also Read: Oris celebrates Chinese New Year with a new watch

Vacheron Constantin Métiers D’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of The Horse

Image: The 950 platinum version. (The 18K 5N pink gold version is pictured in the header image.) Vacheron Constantin’s artistic and Métiers d’Art abilities are second to none.

Vacheron Constantin’s Métiers D’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of The Horse highlights the brand’s exceptional artistic abilities. The dial features a hand engraved and enamelled “three-dimensional figure of a horse leaping over a large rock” (18K 4N pink gold and 18K white gold, depending on reference) set on an 18K 4N dial that highlights two different enamelling techniques:“multi-coloured gradient grand feu enamel which changes from a lighter shade in the centre to slightly darker at the edges, and miniature-painted enamel for the foliage.” An alternate time display watch (free of hands), the trailing hours and minutes are displayed via apertures on the upper part of the dial, and the jumping day of the week and date on the lower part.

Image: Measuring 31 mm (diameter) * 6.05 mm (thickness) and featuring 237 parts, 27 jewels, and beating at 28,800 vph or 4 Hz – Calibre 2460 G4 is a masterclass in haute horology. Dial side (left) and caseback side (right). The dial side in this image corresponds to the 950 platinum version. Notice the Maltese Cross – the brand’s emblem on the automatic winding rotor. Vacheron Constantin has always excelled in alternate time display timepieces.

It is housed in a 40 mm case, crafted from either 18K 5N pink gold and 950 platinum (depending on reference), and powered by Calibre 2460 G4, an automatic movement “developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin” that drives all the functions. Power reserve: 40 hours (approximately).

Name: Métiers D’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of The Horse. Reference: 86073/000R-H067 (18K 5N Pink gold version) and 86073/000P-H066 (950 Platinum version). Price: On Request. Limited edition of 25 pieces for both references. Both references are hallmarked with the Poinçon de Genève or Geneva Seal.

Also Read: Vacheron Constantin unveils a magnificent grand complication and Vacheron Constantin unveils a new classic perpetual calendar

Our Thoughts

Watches are as much about their movements that tick beneath their dials as they are about artistic and Métiers d’Art expression. The depth of the Chinese zodiac which is based on the Chinese calendar presents a superb opportunity and canvas for watch brands to showcase their creative side. The watches covered above highlight a handful of Swiss watch brands’ interpretation of the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse. They each have a universal appeal and will entice collectors worldwide.

Please visit the respective brands websites and Instagram pages to learn more about the above models.