Patek Philippe shines in red and gold

WHILE GOLD IS THE FAVOURED shade for Chinese New Year celebrations, so is red. Patek Philippe makes sure there’s plenty of both in its pick of the season’s timepieces. These three watches in precious metals and rich reds ensure that the Year of the Rabbit kicks off with plenty of joy and good fortune in the months ahead.

Patek Philippe Ref 4947R-001 Annual Calendar, Moon Phases

This rose gold watch is paired with a richly hued, hongbao-red alligator strap. A silvery sunburst dial with gold applied numerals grace the face of the case, which has its back covered by a sapphire crystal that reveals the self-winding mechanical movement inside. Men will hanker for its inner beauty – the movement – housing the annual calendar mechanisms that tell the time, day, date and month. But the modest size (38mm) of the timepiece, sparkling with 155 diamonds, tells them that Ref 4947R is meant for the wife or girlfriend. Price: S$75,600

Patek Philippe Ref 7300/1200R-011 Twenty-4 Automatic

This diamond timepiece is for the ladies, but this one is an exception among the three watches selected for the Chinese New Year. While it’s crafted almost entirely from rose gold, speckled with 160 diamonds on the bezel, there’s no trace of auspicious red. Still, there’s enough gold to bring joy to the lucky owner of the watch. The gleaming precious metal extends from the 36mm case to the dial with rose-gold sunburst gilding, as well as the hands, applied Arabic numerals and date aperture frame. The entirely hand-polished bracelet, fitted with a patented fold-over clasp, is also solid rose gold. Price: S$65,500

Patek Philippe Ref 5271/12P-010 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, Manual Winding

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Men needn’t feel left out this Chinese New Year. With a big case size of 41mm, Ref 5271/12P may still be fashionable for the ladies who follow the big-is-beautiful trend – especially with the watch’s cluster of festive red rubies. But the ‘grand complication’ timepiece (combining the perpetual calendar and the chronograph), made of the heaviest of precious metals – platinum – literally weighs more in the men’s favour.

 The red lacquer dial and 80 rubies that line the bezel and lugs are unlikely to deter them. The glow of rubies are more subtle than diamonds – and they are tempered by a black alligator strap, tastefully stitched in red thread and with a clasp set with red rubies.

Modern men are not shy to wear red – and definitely not when the occasion calls for it. Price: S$459,800