The Chinese New Year rings in on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. According to the Chinese zodiac, this year is governed by the Horse and the element of Fire. The Fire Horse is associated with bold change, high energy, and independence. This specific combination (Fire + Horse) only occurs once every 60 years, with the last occurrence being in 1966.
The beginning of this new lunar cycle has long served as an inspiration for watchmakers, and this year is no different. From horse motifs on dials to custom rotors shaped like a horse, here’s what watches inspired by the Year of the Horse are like…
The Longines Master Collection Year of the Horse watch stands out for its transparent caseback revealing a golden rotor engraved with a “Galloping Horse” motif inspired by a famous Chinese ink painting. Other notable features include a striking red gradient dial and a moonphase display.
It incorporates a highly complex, fully mechanical traditional Chinese calendar complication and a hand-engraved 22-karat gold oscillating weight that depicts a galloping horse treading on a flying swallow, a poetic reference to the mythical Chinese heavenly steed, Tianma. It is also the first watch in this collection to feature a salmon-rose Grand Feu enamel dial.
It features a non-linear power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock. It features two horse silhouettes: a galloping horse when the watch is fully wound, and a resting horse as the power reserve depletes on a deep crimson or “fiery” dark red dial with sunray-brushed finishes.
It features a gold-plated rotor shaped like a galloping horse visible through the caseback, and a small, subtle horse silhouette replacing the word “days” on the power reserve indicator dial.
This watch features a traditional Swiss grand feu enamelling and delicate Chinese paper-cutting techniques, featuring no hands and a sculpted white or pink gold horse at its centre.
It integrates zodiac symbols within its vintage racing design: a stylised horse silhouette in the small seconds subdial and a discreet “YEAR OF THE HORSE” inscription on the tachymeter scale.
This watch features a central horse motif crafted using the ancient art of marquetry, popularised during the Tang Dynasty. Hublot fuses this tradition with modern materials by hand-assembling individual fragments of frosted carbon into the dial’s framework. The horse is outlined with 3N gold-plated brass appliqués — inspired by the intricate embroidery found on ancient Chinese ceremonial robes.
It features a hand-engraved, three-dimensional horse emerging from golden clouds on the reversible caseback.
It features a Chinese character for “horse” in the date window at 9 o’clock, and the numeral ‘7’ is replaced by the Chinese character for horse, “马” (mǎ), honouring the horse’s seventh position in the zodiac cycle. There is also a printed image of a galloping horse on the sapphire crystal caseback, partially overlaying the in-house Calibre TH20-07 movement.
Its dial is a miniature work of art. It features an exquisite hand-painted depiction of a galloping horse against a vibrant backdrop that resembles an explosion of red and orange flames, embodying the “Fire Horse” element for 2026. The tourbillon cage is mounted via a transparent sapphire disc rather than a traditional bridge. This clever design makes the regulating organ appear as if it is floating or “levitating” inside a large opening, mimicking the free spirit of a wild horse.
Images: Courtesy Brands
