Longines has teamed up with Chinese artist Wu Jian’an to create a limited edition timepiece dedicated to 2025, the Year of the Wooden Snake.
Conveniently limited to 2025 examples, look is a special edition of the Conquest Heritage model from Longines. It is distinguished from the rest of the Longines family by its domed graduated red sunray dial and screw-down case back, which is engraved with an image of a mystical snake holding a lingzhi mushroom in its mouth.
According to Longines, in East Asian culture, the snake symbolizes elegance, wisdom and transformation. The snake is known for its intuition and resilience, the watchmaker adds, and also symbolizes rebirth and encourages reflection and personal growth. It’s January and we could probably all sign up for this.
(Image credit: Longines)
The watch has a 40mm stainless steel case with a glass-encased sapphire crystal and a screw-down crown at three o’clock. It is powered by a Longines self-winding mechanical movement, caliber L888.5, with 21 jewels and a power reserve of up to 72 hours. Water resistance is 50 meters.
Longines presents the watch on a black alligator leather strap with a classic stainless steel buckle. In addition to the intricate engraving, the case back features the inscription “2025 Year of the Snake – Limited Edition – One of 2025.”
Why does the snake have a mushroom in its mouth? Longines explains: “In honor of the Lunar Year of the Snake, Longines has collaborated with Chinese artist Wu Jian’an to reinterpret the story of ‘The Stealing of the Immortal Grass’ from the famous Chinese tale ‘The Legend of the White Snake.’ .The emblem depicts a snake clutching a Lingzhi mushroom, its shape swirling into concentric circles, causing ripples that symbolize the passage of time and the continuity of life.”
The Longines Conquest Heritage Year of the Snake Edition is available for £2,800.