Céladon is a challenge established in 2012 by watch aficionado and collector Benjamin Chee. It’s a part of his small group of watch manufacturers, alongside BCHH and Milléchron. If these two relate to Europe and Switzerland, Céladon was created to rejoice Chinese language artisanship, with watches “Made in China with delight.” Specifically, the model’s timepieces are powered with actions designed by AHCI grasp watchmaker Lin Yong Hua (LYH). For 2024, Céladon unveils an array of recent fashions throughout the Century assortment, fitted with expressive inventive dials and totally different customization choices, together with a alternative between the CH1 and CH5 hand-wound actions.
That includes a traditional Chinese language motif, the Céladon Century Double Dragon was created to rejoice the 12 months of the Dragon and Céladon’s Zodiac anniversary, marking 12 years (an entire Chinese language zodiac cycle) because the creation of the model. The watch stands out with its two dragons combating playfully. Rendered in blue and white, typical Ming-inspired colors, these are traced in cloisonné enamel. Cloisonné is a fragile and time-consuming course of. The enameller creates the contours of the patterns with nice gold wires. The cells created by these “cloisons” are then crammed layer after layer with enamel and fired in a kiln.
One other traditional Chinese language motif, the Century Dragon and Phoenix (which we couldn’t test in particular person and {photograph}) portrays a flying dragon and dancing phoenix. The images supplied are a monochromatic rendering of the 2 legendary animals however these might be produced in a multicolour model too, as an illustration in Ming blue and white like for the Century “Double Dragon”. And an analogous means, the “Double Dragon” might be ordered in a monochromatic model.
The Céladon Century Duo of Peacocks follows the profitable Peacock and Peonies. The colored plumage of the peacocks is rendered in Cloisonné enamel whereas the background is hand-hammered.
Final however not least, the Céladon Galaxy and Nebula are star gazing invites whose dials mix two enamel methods, miniature portray and gold paillonné. The delicate sparkle of Paillonné includes the appliance of wafer-thin leaves of gold (paillons) and setting the design below a coat of translucent enamel (fondant).
All fashions are introduced within the distinctive moon-shaped Century case. In keeping with Benjamin Chee, its design was impressed by the Chinese language idea of yuanman (perfection and fulfilment), characterised by spherical, curvaceous kinds. Crafted from 904L stainless-steel, it measures 42mm in diameter, 11.5mm in thickness, and has a lug-to-lug measurement of 47.4mm. Its flat crown is elegantly built-in into the case profile however operates fairly comfortably.
Conventional for Céladon, the artisanal dimension of the manufacturing permits for various customization choices. Amongst these, the hand-made peacock tail arms might be rendered in several shades of thermal colouring: blue, purple or transition…
Importantly, there are totally different motion choices too with both the hand-wound calibre CH1 or the extra refined calibre CH5. Created by AHCI grasp watchmaker Lin Yong Hua, these two guide actions beat at 18,000 vibrations/hour, each boasting an influence reserve of 45 hours. The CH1 incorporates a three-quarter bridge plated in rose gold with sweeping rounded curves and rubies set into chatons. The CH5 is a extra elaborate calibre whose bridges, steadiness cock and click on are designed to allude to the crested head and tail feathers of the phoenix. Amongst different highlights, it options inward and outward angles, a planetary winding click on, serpentine spokes for the centre wheel or a steadiness wheel fitted with a Breguet overcoil. Completely different ending might be elected with, as an illustration, the power to personalize the color (rose or white gold plating), the end (frosted or striped bridges) and the engravings.
These new Céladon Century watches are introduced on leather-based straps and fitted with a pin buckle. Value begins at USD 14,900 with the CH1 motion and USD 29,900 for the Century with the CH5 motion.
For extra data, please go to www.celadonhh.com
