Arnold & Son HM Dragon & Fenghuang
Paper cutting is a Chinese art that dates as far back as the second century CE. As a form of decoration, people at all levels of society would cut intricate patterns into paper—most frequently in red, which is a colour associated with celebration in China. The designs would then be mounted on walls or windows, creating elegant patterns as light shone through them. Paper cuts symbolise luck and happiness, and as one of the oldest and the most popular forms of folk art in China, the tradition is deeply engrained in Chinese culture.
In a beautiful celebration of this ancient tradition, Arnold & Son has released a limited edition watch with a dial decorated in a style visually similar to paper cutting. Several layers of lacquer is applied to an iridescent mother of pearl dial to create the effect, giving a look of depth and texture that resembles a red paper cut design.
The motif chosen for the design was the dragon and the fenghuang, or Chinese phoenix, which are ubiquitous in Chinese culture and mythology. The dragon symbolises power and good fortune, while the phoenix represents virtue and grace. The two are often depicted together as a metaphor for yin and yang; two opposite forces working together in a complementary, fortuitous fashion.
The watch features the in-house A&S1001, a superlative and highly precise twin barrel movement that features a 90 hour power reserve. It is encased in a beautiful 40 rose gold case, the colour of which perfectly complements the intricate red design of the dial. As a very limited special edition, the HM Dragon & Fenghuang is available in just five pieces.
