Monkey business - Year of the monkey

April 2016



by Mr. E & Jeta B

Starting on 8th of February, the second New Moon after the solstice, 2016 is the Year of the Monkey in the Chinese zodiac. In honour of the New Year – and no doubt in an attempt to appeal to an ever-growing Chinese market for luxury goods – a number of brands have released new creations.

Harry Winston - The Premier Monkey Automatic
Harry Winston - The Premier Monkey Automatic

According to traditional Chinese astrology, the Monkey is a very intelligent, hyperactive and strong-minded creature. Harry Winston’s Premier Collection adds a new emblematic symbol to its collection, with the Premier Monkey Automatic. The star of the show is, of course, the diamond-eyed 18K gold monkey at the centre of the dial, which appears to be grasping the bezel at 9 o’clock. The tail winds around another diamond – this one emerald-cut – at 12 o’clock. A hyperactive monkey indeed!

It’s not just the symbolic representation of the monkey on the dial that is inspired by Chinese culture. Harry Winston has taken the homage one step further, using appliqué and marquise-cut openwork evocative of Jianzhi, a prized Chinese art form used for centuries to convey lifelong prosperity.

The monkey is suspended on a luminous backdrop made of pink mother-of-pearl, enhanced with flecks of 24K gold, each one of which has been set in individually carved hollows. In combination, it creates a magnificent dial with an impressive constellation of precious materials in pink and gold. The watch is wrapped in a rose gold case, and fastens around the wrist with a stylish black satin strap. Sparkling like any fine jewellery, the bezel, lugs and ardillon buckle are set with 74 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 2.47 carats.

On the inside, Harry Winston also means business. The Premier Monkey Automatic 36mm is driven by a mechanical automatic movement that is equipped with a flat silicon balance spring. The circular Côtes de Genève finishing is impeccably crafted, and the impressive movement is visible through the sapphire crystal on the case back.

The Monkey is also free of inhibitions and guilt, Chinese astrology tells us. Jewellery designers have been inspired by this playfulness too.

De Grisogono brings us the grinning monkey ring in pink and yellow gold set with black and white diamonds, from a collection not accidentally entitled Crazymals.

Theo Fennel - Diamond Monkey ‘Art Charm
Theo Fennel - Diamond Monkey ‘Art Charm

Theo Fennel brings the monkey to life in rose gold and black diamonds. This cheeky, impish charm is meant to bring luck and fortune in 2016.

What can we say – it’s a monkey business!