RIVIERA CHINESE NEW YEAR LIMITED EDITION - YEAR OF THE DRAGON WATCHES

Baume & Mercier Celebrates the Year of the Dragon with the Release of Riviera Limited Edition Couple Watches   

As the Year of the Dragon rings in, Baume & Mercier is delighted to present the new Riviera Chinese New Year Limited Edition – Year of the Dragon watches. True masterpieces of craftsmanship and elegance, they vividly capture the dragon’s majestic charm and its profound significance in oriental culture. A symbol of power, prestige and talent, the mystical creature has long been worshiped as a cultural totem and a spiritual bond that connects Chinese people all over the world.  

Celebrating the upcoming Year of the dragon, the Riviera Chinese New Year Limited Edition – Year of the Dragon comes in an exclusive pair: the Riviera Baumatic Moon-phase Date 10744 for men and the Riviera Automatic 10743 for women, both available in limited quantities of 150 pieces worldwide. The men’s timepiece features a distinctive dodecagonal case which houses a high-performance Baumatic manufacture movement inside. An auspicious creature in Chinese folklore, the five-clawed dragon unfurls its majestic aura on the case back as well as the intricately adorned moon phase sub-dial, heralding a new year of success and good blessings. 

RIVIERA Chinese New Year Limited Edition – Year of the Dragon Baumatic Moon-phase Date 10744   

Prominently located at 6 o'clock on the dial of the Riviera Chinese New Year Limited Edition – Year of the Dragon Baumatic Moon-phase Date 10744, the moon phase indicator is adorned with a gilded dragon, which represents Yang, and a gilded moon as a symbol of Yin, in a subtle nod to the ancient Chinese philosophy that harmony is created through the union of Yin and Yang. A majestic golden dragon claws at a pair of moons which rotate slowly to display the actual moon’s phase cycle in the sky. This vivid scene evokes the traditional Chinese decorative pattern which depicts a dragon playing with pearls, symbolizing peace and longevity. The auspicious motif can be traced back to as far as the Han Dynasty over 2,000 years ago, and was born from the ancient Chinese observations of planetary movements, with the pearl representing the moon. This makes it a naturally befitting element on the moon phase indicator, whose delicate gilded hand takes the shape of a dragon's whiskers – a distinctive new design introduced specifically for the Riviera Chinese New Year Dragon watch. The whisker-shaped hand gracefully sweeps around in an interesting contrast to the imposing golden dragon motif, symbolizing the balance between mobility and stability. The overall design of the watch conveys the message of good blessings for a year filled with vitality, health and success.    

The iconic dodecagonal bezel reflects the twelve hours displayed on the dial, whilst at the same time corresponds to the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac. The 43-mm case is made from polished and satin-finished  stainless steel, giving the watch a refined and sleek look. The four sandblasted steel-ADLC screws form a perfect square, which contrasts with the rounded moon phase indicator, demonstrating the traditional Chinese worldview of “Round Heaven and Square Earth”. Together with the free octagonal crown marked with a red line, the square shape also promises a year of balance and stability. The sand-coloured satin sunray and lacquered dial is highlighted with a grey flange and protected beneath a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with an anti-glare coating on both sides, maintaining the brand's unique aesthetic codes. The riveted Roman numerals and indexes filled with Superluminova (C1, blue glow) at 3, 9 and 12 o'clock, along with the open-worked gilded hour/minute hands and the gilded seconds hand with PHI logo on the counterweight, represent a sophisticated fusion of elegance and cutting-edge technology. 

The artistic feast continues on the dodecagonal sapphire crystal case back, where a magnificent five-clawed golden dragon stretches its mighty body to join the smaller dragon on the moon-phase disc in bringing good luck. The design continues the impressive yet discreet aesthetic which is unique to Baume & Mercier. Beneath the dragon decal, the Manufacture self-winding Baumatic movement BM14-1975 AC1 ticks robustly, driving energy and vitality into the new year. The movement features exquisite finishings: a circular-grained bridge, a sand-blasted and snailed plate, and an open-worked oscillating weight adorned with “Côtes de Genève” and snailed decorations, further highlighting the dragon’s majestic charm. A power reserve of 120 hours (5 days) and water resistance of up to 10 ATM (approximately 100 m), this movement delivers exceptional reliability and strong performance to mark every precious moment.   

Riviera Chinese New Year Limited Edition – Year of the Dragon Calendar Automatic 10743    

Continuing with the same theme of the men’s watch, the 33-mm Riviera Chinese New Year Limited Edition – Year of the Dragon Automatic 10743,which is featuring a movement with 38 hours power reserve, features a soaring gilded dragon on the case back to symbolize good fortune to reach new heights in the upcoming year. The brilliant-cut top Wesselton diamonds set on the bezel and the gilded PVD steel ring in the case middle exude a sense of nobility, honour and wealth, further adding a layer of  sophistication to the timepiece. The exquisite transparent wave decor on the white natural mother-of-pearl dial depicts the force of waves crashing against rocks. An aperture at 3 o’clock reveals the date. The gilded riveted Roman numerals and indexes, as well as the faceted gilded hour, minute and seconds hands coated with Superluminova (C1, blue emission), provide a pleasing contrast to the sleek red line running along the octogonal crown. The combination of gold and red colours, traditionally associated with nobility and joy in Chinese culture, signals a new year of abundance and prosperity.