The Vacheron Constantin Year of the Snake watch

Next year is also known by the Chinese as the Year of the Snake, and Vacheron Constantin has already embedded this celebration onto his latest timekeeping creation – the Vacheron Constantin Year of the Snake timepiece. The relations between Vacheron Constantin and the Chinese have deep roots, having started 90 years after the founding of the Vacheron brand back in 1755.

The Chinese Year of the Snake will reportedly begin on the 10^th of February 2013 and it comes with a great opportunity for enthusiasts of the timepiece industry. The Swiss manufacturer is ready to pamper them with this brand new timepiece, part of the Métiers d’Art series, especially manufactured to celebrate the New Year.

The design of the piece was reportedly inspired from traditional Chinese iconography, as the superb gold-enameled dial is manufactured with the traditional, exclusive Grand Feu technique, which we can only find in Switzerland’s Geneva.

The center of the face has been garnished with a snake engraving, which can be come in three metal versions – crafted from bronze, platinum or gold. Four separate windows are also mounted on the dial, each displaying the seconds, minutes, days or hours – the brand has also dared to call it “hands-free”. Available in two different versions, crafted from platinum or 18 carat rose gold, and featuring a 40 millimeter hull, the timepiece fits the wearer’s hand via Mississippi alligator strapping.

The interior of the timepiece comprises a mechanical self-winding movement with 22-carat gold oscillating weight, which beats at the common rate of 28,800 vibes per hour. Each version of the Vacheron Constantin Year of the Snake Timepiece will be manufactured in just 12 units, all of them being provided with the year 2013 engraved on the casebacks. Prices will be disclosed upon request, at Vacheron Constantin boutiques.

[Luxuo]