The Year of the Horse, According to Longines

Longines approaches the Year of the Horse in a way that feels instinctive rather than imposed. The Master Collection Year of the Horse is not framed as a radical departure or a novelty release.

Instead, it reads as a natural extension of the brand’s long-standing dialogue with equestrian culture, craftsmanship and measured progress.

Limited to 2,026 pieces, the watch marks the lunar year with restraint and intent. The number itself is quietly symbolic, but it is the execution that gives the piece its authority. Longines has long understood that luxury is not about assertion. It is about confidence in continuity.

The 42mm stainless steel case houses a dial finished in a deep red sunray brush, with a gentle gradient that draws the eye inward. Red is an auspicious colour, associated with renewal and vitality, yet here it is treated with discipline. The effect is closer to the warmth of early light than ceremonial spectacle.

Gilt hands and applied indices bring clarity and balance, while the moon phase display at six o’clock anchors the watch in the rhythms of the lunar calendar without excess.

The Master Collection has always been defined by classical proportion and legibility, and this edition remains faithful to that ethos. Nothing feels added for effect. Every element has its place, and every complication earns its presence.

It is the reverse of the watch that carries the emotional weight of the piece. Through the sapphire case back, the movement reveals a yellow-gilt rotor engraved with a galloping horse, inspired by the celebrated painting "Galloping Horse" by Peon Xu.

Created in collaboration with the Peon Art Museum in China and curated by the artist’s son, Qingping Xu, the engraving transforms the mechanics into something expressive and alive.

As the rotor turns, the horse appears to move forward, its energy driven by the motion of the wearer. The image speaks to momentum and resolve, qualities traditionally associated with the horse in Chinese culture.

The inclusion of Peon Xu’s personal seal and the accompanying calligraphy reinforces the sense that this is not a decorative borrowing but a considered cultural exchange.

Powering the watch is the Longines L899.5 self-winding movement, offering a power reserve of up to seventy two hours and equipped with a silicon balance spring.

The choice of silicon reflects the brand’s practical approach to modern watchmaking. It is a material selected for precision and durability rather than technical theatre, and it aligns with Longines’ emphasis on reliability over bravado.

The watch is paired with a black leather strap secured by a stainless steel folding clasp. The overall presence is composed and versatile, suited to daily wear rather than display alone. Despite its cultural significance, the piece never feels ceremonial. It remains grounded in function.

The symbolism of the horse also carries particular resonance for Longines. Since the nineteenth century, the brand has been deeply connected to the equestrian world, serving as the official timekeeper at international competitions where accuracy and poise are essential.

This history lends weight to the motif. It is not an abstract idea but part of the brand’s lived identity.

For collectors, the appeal of the Master Collection Year of the Horse lies in its clarity. It does not attempt to redefine Longines, nor does it rely on spectacle to justify its existence.

It is a watch built on proportion, heritage and cultural awareness, created with the understanding that time, like momentum, is most powerful when it moves forward without force.