The Pantone Color of the Year for 2024 is Peach Fuzz. This is a tone intended to have a calming effect and exudes a sense of gentleness, according to this color institute. It’s a shade that is relatively rare in the world of watches, except for the highly coveted salmon dials from some haute-horlogerie brands. Their colorway is similar to peach, but much more bold, vibrant and intense.
Now, with the Chinese New Year celebrations on February 10 marking the official start of the Year of the Wood Dragon, several watch brands have taken the opportunity to create limited special editions. Some of them opt for stunning burgundy tones, reminiscent of the radiant red hues used in the celebrations and associated with the fire-breathing dragon. Like bordeaux and merlot they are named after famous French red wines and regions. Burgundy wine is made in the Burgundy region of eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here, and those commonly referred to as “Burgundies,” are dry red wines made from pinot noir grapes.
Here are three examples from IWC Schaffhausen, Panerai, and Longines featuring expressive burgundy dials that also come right in time for Valentine’s Day. Just like the burgundy wines, they display a fascinating dark shaded red with a subtle chocolate undertone.
IWC Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon
Limited to 1,000 pieces, the notably classic and elegant IWC Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon has its entrance in a 41mm stainless steel case and impresses with a burgundy dial with contrasting gold-plated hands and appliques. It provides a beautiful backdrop for the signature Arabic numerals and two-counter layout with stop minutes at 12 o’clock and running seconds at 6 o’clock of this popular IWC classic.
The Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon is powered by the IWC-manufactured 69355 caliber, a robust and precise mechanical chronograph movement in a classic column-wheel design that boast a power reserve of 46 hours. A glance at the movement through the transparent sapphire case back reveals the topic of the watch: the gold-plated rotor of the automatic winding system takes the form of a beautifully detailed dragon. In addition, the case back ring features an engraving of “2024 YEAR OF THE DRAGON.”
The IWC Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon is delivered with two straps: one black calfskin strap and one burgundy rubber strap, allowing the wearer to choose between two different looks. Both are equipped with a butterfly clasp.
Pricing is marked at $9,350.
To learn more, visit IWC Schaffhausen, here.
Panerai Luminor Due PAM01424
Panerai‘s latest addition to the Luminor Due collection, first introduced in 2016 as a more elegant and dressy Panerai yet maintaining the signature hallmarks such as the the crown-protecting bridge, the sandwich dial and the distinct cushion-shaped case is the PAM01424. Set in a 42mm steel case, the versatile time-only watch is equipped with a burgundy shaded gradient dial that transitions from a light center to a darker gradient at the edges. It indicates the color-coordinated date at 3 o’clock and the small seconds at 9 o’clock. The hands, numerals and markers are coated with white Super-Luminova that emits an intense green glow in the dark. Water-resistant to 50 meters, the watch is powered by the automatic P.900 manufacture caliber which boasts a power reserve of three days.
Pricing is marked at $7,300.
To learn more, visit Panerai, here.
Longines Flagship Heritage Year of the Dragon
The third watch in the series is a special edition of the Longines Flagship Heritage Moon Phase for the Year of the Dragon, and it also features a magnificent gradient dial. Longines doesn’t explicitly call the color “burgundy,” but the intense shading of the dial, with a lighter center and a darker periphery, evokes the nuances of a glass of red wine or a colored wine leaf in the autumn sun in a French vineyard. This expressive play of light provides an extraordinary stage for the classic design of the Flagship Heritage line with twelve gilt hour markers. The effect is further enhanced by the slightly domed shape. As the name suggests, the moon phase indication takes center stage, with a golden moon accompanied by stars against a blue background. The indication also includes a pointer date.
In true fashion of the Flagship Heritage which was first introduced in the 1950s, the stainless steel case boasts a diameter of 38.5mm.
The timepiece is driven by the exclusive Longines caliber L899.5, which is equipped with a silicon balance-spring to improve the resistance to magnetic fields, thus offering an exceptional precision. In addition, the movement boasts a a power reserve of up to 72 hours.
The winged hourglass brand has invited Zinan Lam, an emerging Chinese artist, to create an exclusive emblem for the case back. It displays an auspicious dragon, portrayed with its head held high and ready to take flight on a timepiece.
The Longines Flagship Heritage Year of the Dragon is the brand’s first Asian Zodiac timepiece and limited to 888 pieces.
Pricing is marked at $3,150.
To learn more, visit Longines, here.
