New releases from Bell & Ross, Ulysse Nardin, Blancpain and more

Pietro Pilla

With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, more and more new releases are starting to arrive with the theme of the dragon, the animal symbolising the upcoming year. For this week’s selection, we have a predominance of bigger brands that, to honour the new year, are not only releasing new colourways and artistic representations of the legendary dragon but also real complications aimed at measuring the Chinese lunar calendar.

Bell & Ross BR 05 Artline Dragon

• Bell & Ross decorates the BR 05 model with a special laser engraving technique not only on the dial but also on the bracelet.
• On the dial, the hour, minute and second hand mimic dragon whiskers, with the first two filled with black lacquer to maintain the monochromatic look.
• With the dragon as a sign of courage, benevolence, prosperity and good luck, this timepiece is a limited edition of 99 pieces.

Learn more about the Bell & Ross BR 05 Artline Dragon here.

Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon Dragon

• Ulysse Nardin has recreated their Year of the Dragon watch from 2012 in three dimensions.
• The golden dragon sculpture is executed in red gold and enamel, reaching out for a pearl in the tourbillon.
• It doesn’t shy away at 45mm in diameter, allowing space for the UN-172 movement – specifically developed for skeletonisation – to shine.

Learn more about the Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon Dragon here.

Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar

• In 2012, Blancpain first introduced the combination of a complex Chinese calendar and a Gregorian date and moon phase.
• 2024 marks the beginning of the second 12-year cycle (length of the lunar cycle) with a green enamel dial.
• The red gold case matches the red gold engraved rotor for this 50-piece limited edition.

Learn more about the Blancpain Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar here.

IWC Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon

• True to form, IWC welcomes the Lunar New Year with a limited edition – this time, a Portugieser Chronograph.
• Like previous Lunar New Year watches, it features a burgundy dial with red gold indices and hands.
• 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, and fittingly, it features a unique dragon-shaped rotor.

Learn more about the IWC Portugieser Chronograph Year of the Dragon here.

Seiko Prospex King Turtle Black Series SRPK43

• The recurring Black Series sub-collection gets a stealthy new addition with this new Prospex King Turtle.
• Sharing a black hard coating on a stainless steel case common to all the watches in the Black Series, this watch gets upgraded to the ‘King’ Turtle specifications.
• The stainless steel bracelet matches the finish of the case and the matte black dial completes the monochromatic look.

Learn more about the Seiko Prospex King Turtle Black Series SRPK43 here.

Swatch x Blancpain Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Ocean of Storms

• The sixth edition of the Swatch x Blancpain Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms has arrived, featuring a blacked-out colour scheme and sunray dial.
• Rather than being inspired by one of Earth’s oceans, it’s inspired by one of the Moon’s lunar ‘oceans’.
• It’s not a limited release, unlike the Moonshine Gold MoonSwatch releases – it will be joining the Scuba Fifty Fathoms range permanently.

Learn more about the Swatch x Blancpain Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Ocean of Storms here.

Longines Flagship Heritage Moonphase Year of the Dragon

• Longines celebrates the upcoming Year of the Dragon in a relatively conservative way, adding a red vignette dial to its Flagship Heritage collection.
• This moon phase model maintains classical appearances but engraves a dragon head on the back to honour the zodiac sign.
• Available exclusively in Asia, it’s a limited of 888 pieces, a Chinese number for great luck and prosperity.

Learn more about the Longines Flagship Heritage Moonphase Year of the Dragon here.

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Father Time Limited Edition

• Oris and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) collaborate on a limited-edition bronze version of the Big Crown Pointer Date.
• Named after the famous ‘Father Time’ weathervane at Lord’s Cricket Ground, it comes with both a Cervo Volante leather strap and a multi-piece bronze bracelet.
• To mark the year Father Time was gifted to Lord’s, it’s limited to 1,926 pieces.

Learn more about the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Father Time Limited Edition here.

Grand Seiko Heritage 62GS Hi-Beat SBGH317

• Seiko’s home of Ginza in Tokyo is the inspiration for yet another Grand Seiko piece.
• With many models exclusively available only at their Ginza flagship, Grand Seiko releases a new timepiece with the iconic (and fan favourite) 62GS case.
• The dial features an additional sun-brushed finish in a distinct periwinkle colour, said to evoke the winter light of the quiet streets of Ginza.

Learn more about the Grand Seiko Heritage 62GS Hi-Beat SBGH317 here.

Delma 1924 Tourbillon

• Delma celebrates the 100th anniversary of continuous production by creating an iconic tourbillon watch.
• This is Delma’s first proprietary movement, with a high level of attention to finishing and decoration of the Swiss-made calibre.
• To celebrate the brand’s 100th anniversary, this model is limited to 100 pieces, one for each birthday that has already passed.

Learn more about the Delma 1924 Tourbillon here.