Celebrate the Year of the Horse with Longines' Stunning New Timepiece – But Here’s the Twist You Won’t Expect!
The Chinese Lunar New Year, beginning on February 17, 2026, and ending on February 5, 2027, ushers in the Year of the Horse, the seventh sign of the zodiac. Given the Moon’s pivotal role in the Chinese Lunisolar calendar, Longines has chosen a moon phase model from its timeless Master Collection to commemorate this occasion. This limited edition of 2,026 pieces is not just a watch; it’s a cultural masterpiece, adorned with symbolic elements and an engraving of Peon Xu’s iconic Galloping Horse on the gilt rotor of the movement. But here’s where it gets intriguing: unlike previous zodiac-themed releases, this watch doesn’t feature the Horse on the dial—instead, it relies on subtle cultural allusions to honor the year’s spirit.
Following the success of the Longines Heritage Year of the Dragon and Conquest Year of the Snake, the 2026 Master Collection Year of the Horse shares a striking deep red sunray-brushed dial with a dramatic gradient effect, darkening toward the edges. Red, a symbol of good fortune, joy, and prosperity in Chinese culture, takes center stage. And this is the part most people miss: the combination of red and gold, considered even more auspicious, is seamlessly integrated with gilt appliques, golden indices, and a winged Longines logo. The gold-plated leaf-shaped hands and inclined flange for minute markers add a layer of sophistication that’s hard to ignore.
But here’s the controversial part: While the watch celebrates Chinese tradition, the absence of the Horse on the dial might leave some collectors wondering if it fully captures the zodiac’s essence. What do you think? Does a watch need to explicitly display its thematic animal to be a true tribute?
At 6 o’clock, the moon phase complication takes pride of place, a nod to the Lunisolar calendar’s reliance on lunar cycles. A golden moon glides across a starry sky, while a leaf-shaped pointer hand indicates the date, perfectly matching the red and gold color scheme. The engraving of Peon Xu’s Galloping Horse on the rotor, overseen by the artist’s son Qingping Xu, adds a dynamic touch—the Horse appears in constant motion as the watch moves, symbolizing courage, freedom, and strength.
Housed in a polished stainless steel case with a 42mm diameter and 11.2mm thickness, the watch is water-resistant to 30 meters and features sapphire crystals on both the front and caseback. The automatic calibre L899.5, based on the ETA A31.L91, has been upgraded with a reduced frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour and an extended 72-hour power reserve. Paired with a black alligator leather strap and a steel triple-folding clasp, this timepiece retails for EUR 3,100, CHF 2,650, or USD 3,400.
Thought-provoking question: Is the fusion of traditional Chinese art with Swiss watchmaking a harmonious blend or a missed opportunity for bolder cultural representation? Share your thoughts in the comments!
For more details, visit Longines.com.
Technical Specifications – Longines Master Collection Year of the Horse
- Case: 42mm diameter x 11.2mm thickness x 49.7mm lug-to-lug, polished stainless steel, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, sapphire caseback with special engraving, 30m water resistance.
- Dial: Red sunray-brushed with gradient effect, moon phases and pointer date at 6 o’clock, applied gilt indices, polished gilt leaf-shaped hands.
- Movement: Calibre L899.5 (ETA A31.L91 base), automatic, 25,200vph, silicon balance spring, 72h power reserve, hours, minutes, seconds, moon phase, pointer date, golden rotor engraved with Peon Xu’s Galloping Horse.
- Strap: Black alligator leather with steel triple-folding clasp and push-piece opening mechanism.
- Reference: L2.919.4.09.2
- Availability: Limited edition of 2,026 pieces
- Price: EUR 3,100 | CHF 2,650 | USD 3,400
