Blancpain celebrates the year of the rat with its first ever porcelain dial

Craftsmanship takes pride of place in the latest offering from Blancpain for the Chinese New Year, which in 2020 begins on January 25. The Swiss luxury horologist is presenting its first ever porcelain dial on a limited-edition watch for the year of the rat, of which only eight unique pieces will be made.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, Swiss luxury watchmaker Blancpain has created a new timepiece with a porcelain dial, which has been entirely hand-crafted in its Métiers d'Art workshops, using techniques that require precision, patience, dexterity and meticulous attention to detail.

The new watches, which mark the introduction of the traditional Chinese skill of porcelain production at the Swiss manufacturer, are distinguished by an unprecedented level of decoration. Each of the enameled dials has been painted freehand, with images of rats, the Chinese zodiac animal for 2020, before being fired in a kiln at 1,200 degrees.

Powered by a 1154 automatic movement with hours, minutes and seconds functions, and a 100-hour power reserve, the watch, which is housed in a 33-mm diameter white-gold case, features a bezel set with 48 brilliant-cut diamonds. Each of the eight one-of-a-kind timepieces of this limited edition will be presented with an alligator strap.