A tiny monkey, deftly suspended from a glittering gemstone, glints on a backdrop of pink and gold: this enchanting spectacle has been dreamed up by the artisans of Harry Winston Timepieces to celebrate Chinese New Year. An exclusive limited edition of only eight pieces, the Premier Monkey Automatic 36mm offers an impressive pink mother-of-pearl dial, enhanced with flecks of 24K gold, each set one by one in individually carved hollows, creating a magnificent pink and gold constellation.
An 18K gold monkey with a diamond for an eye hangs delicately against this luminous backdrop, as if grasping the bezel at 9 o’clock, while his tail winds effortlessly around an emerald-cut diamond at 12 o’clock. By using appliqué and marquise-cut openwork, evocative of Jianzhi – a prized Chinese art form used for centuries to convey lifelong prosperity – Harry Winston’s craftsmen bring the design to life.
The Premier Monkey Automatic 36mm is driven by a mechanical automatic movement equipped with a flat silicon balance spring, visible through the sapphire crystal on the case back. The circular Côtes de Genève finishing is impeccably crafted. The timepiece is presented in a rose gold case that measures 36 mm in diameter and is secured by a stylish black satin strap. The bezel, lugs and ardillon buckle are set with 74 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 2.47 carats that sparkle with all the fire of Harry Winston jewelry.
The Year of the Monkey begins on February 8, 2016. The monkey is the ninth of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac and a ubiquitous symbol of Chinese culture. The Premier Collection draws on the savoir-faire of Harry Winston to offer an interpretation of this emblematic creature.
