Baume & Mercier Celebrates Chinese New Year

We will ring in the Year of the Rabbit for Chinese New Year on January 22, 2023. To join in the festivities, Baume & Mercier is releasing a special edition of the Riviera Collection: the Riviera Chinese New Year Rabbit. For the occasion, the iconic design of this sport chic watch is adorned with traditional Chinese symbols for luck, happiness and prosperity. Its great energy is powered by a high-performance Baumatic Manufacture movement.

The dodecagonal case reflects the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese calendar

In the Chinese calendar, the New Year – also known as Lunar New Year – corresponds with the first day of the first month of the lunisolar Gregorian calendar, which is based both on the annual solar cycle and the regular moon phase cycle. It always falls on a day of the crescent between January 21st and February 20th. The Spring Festival opens the year of the Rabbit on January 22, 2023, which will conclude on February 9, 2024 with the Lunar New Year's Eve. Based on the observation of the cosmos and time measurement in Ancient China, and including facets of astrology and astronomy, the Chinese calendar is composed of a twelve-year cycle, with each common year made up of twelve moon cycles.

The Riviera Chinese New Year Rabbit beautifully mirrors that system: the twelve sides of its dodecagonal shape, which is emblematic of the collection, correspond with the twelve hours on the dial. In polished and satin-brushed stainless steel with a 42-mm diameter, its bold case is particularly enhanced by the marked contrast of its polished and sun satin stainless steel bezel – fastened with four screws in sandblasted steel – against the smoky gray sapphire dial, adorned with a subtle wave decor. This aesthetic effect is protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with an anti-glare coating on both sides. It extends into the Roman numerals and riveted indexes in 5N gold-plated PVD steel coated with Superluminova (C1, blue glow) and the faceted hands in 5N gold-plated PVD steel which indicate the hours, minutes and seconds. A narrow aperture at 3 o’clock reveals the date.

A tribute to the Rabbit, the 2023 sign of the Chinese Zodiac

Each of the twelve years of the Chinese calendar is traditionally represented by an animal and an element. 2023 is the year of the Water Rabbit. The New Year’s slogan heralds luck and happiness: “金兔携名福，星月照万士” “The rabbit brings luck and is with you every day.”  This message is all the more reassuring since this adorable animal is synonymous with longevity in China. The Rabbit appears at 8 o’clock on the dial of the Riviera Chinese New Year, since the number 8 represents luck and prosperity. It also adorns the dodecagonal case back, where a sapphire crystal reveals a superb openworked gold-tone oscillating weight. This vibrant collection illustrates the beauty of time and the anticipation of the new year while expressing the free spirit and joie de vivre of the Riviera Collection. The design surrounding the Rabbit on the case back is a typical decorative pattern used on various Chinese instruments. Its history dates back nearly 1600 years, and it carries extensive cultural connotations. Because of its enduring nature, the Chinese consider it a symbol of good luck, construing it as the promise of a continual flow of prosperity and happiness.

Red and gold, symbolic colors

In this tribute to the Chinese New Year, the Riviera Chinese New Year – Rabbit Edition is adorned with gold and red, two strong colors that the Chinese associate with joy. The Roman numerals, hands and indexes of the watch are gold-toned to express status, success and wealth. Meanwhile, the red accents symbolize celebration, happiness and peace. The delicate red line running along the free octagonal crown, stamped with the emblematic Baume & Mercier Phi logo; the red rabbit transfer on the case back; and the additional strap in red rubber included with the timepiece all evoke the warm wishes that the Chinese adore and that they address to their loved ones at the beginning of each year.

The Baumatic Manufacture movement, a promise of longevity

The self-winding Baumatic Manufacture movement BM131975A brings panache to the momentum of this new beginning. Recognized for its certified COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) chronometric precision, its resistance to everyday magnetic fields, its durability and its robustness, it offers a power reserve of 120 hours (5 days). The Riviera Chinese New Year Rabbit watch is also water-resistant to 10 ATM (approximately 100 m).

The interchangeable strap, asserting style

In polished and satin-finished stainless steel, the integrated strap of the Riviera Chinese New Year Rabbit features three rows and a triple folding clasp with security push-pieces. A very reliable, robust interchangeability system makes it possible to change the strap without the need for tools and to alternate with the integrated additional strap in grained and satin-finished red rubber equipped with this ingenious device. This new timepiece further broadens the profuse creativity of the Riviera Collection, which has been exemplifying the imaginative designer watch spirit since it was launched in 1973: ever as eager to play on aesthetic codes, to the delight of its devotees.