2026 is the Chinese year of the horse, and Longines is celebrating it with a release that captures the spirit and precision of horse racing, its fiery associations, and a sense of forward momentum. It’s an early highlight in this year’s luxury watch news. Designed in collaboration with the Peon Art Museum in China, it features the iconic galloping horse, created by artist Peon Xu, finely engraved inside the rotor of the automatic movement. The deep red color symbolizes the fire element, which relates to the year’s symbolic meaning, and signifies passion, energy, and change.
Cultural Significance of the Longines Year of the Horse
As a watch brand, Longines has deep ties to equestrian sports. Since the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it has been designing stopwatches and chronographs specifically for timing racing events. Its ties to the industry became official after the brand was chosen as a timekeeper for various horsec racing and show events.
The Zodiac has often inspired watch designs, and the horse has additional significance to the Longines story. As the 7th zodiac animal celebrated in the Lunar New Year cycle, it is tied to the moon phases, hence the moon phase complications. Its red dial and gold accents capture the fiery theme that is symbolic of the year of the horse.
The Appearance
The dial is a standout feature offering a deep sunray red gradient that catches the light as you move your wrist, providing a dynamic appearance. The color choice is intentionally bold, as a powerful symbol of luck and prosperity in Chinese Culture.
Applied gold-toned hour markers, minute, and second hands complement the dial, offering an elegant, dressy aesthetic. A moon phase dial is displayed at 6 o’clock, showing a golden moon against a starry sky, carrying the zodiac theme.
The dial is surrounded by a 42mm stainless steel classic round case, creating a polished look. Despite its racy features, it stands out as an elegant dress watch.
The Fit
At 42mm, this is a relatively large watch. However, the downward curving lugs and relatively slim profile help it wrap around the wrist, so it wears smaller than it is. It is best for wrist sizes 6.75” to 7.5”, but it is still workable on smaller wrists ranging from 6.25” to 6.75”.
The case’s slimness also means it may fit well under looser dress shirt cuffs.
The Strap
The watch features an alligator leather strap with a subtle glossy finish, contributing to its luxurious good looks. The black color was an intentional design move, helping the red and gold details stand out.
Once broken in, the strap will fit comfortably on the wrist. The padding offers a softer contact surface and better weight distribution for heavy watches. It supports the watch nicely, ensuring it stays in place.
The folding/deployant clasp with push buttons makes the watch easy to put on and take off, and reduces stress on the leather. More secure than a pin buckle, it will hold the watch on the wrist for confident wear.
Caseback and Movement
The watch features a sapphire display caseback, allowing you to view the movement. The highlight is Peon Xu’s Galloping Horse Motif engraved in the rotor. It sits alongside calligraphy by Quingping Xu, the artist’s son, depicting Chinese symbols; one for a galloping horse, and another meaning “gaining momentum and advantage.”
Other engravings on the caseback reveal the brand, collection, water resistance, and limited-edition numbering of 2,026 produced.
The watch is powered by the Longines calibre L899.5 automatic movement and features a 72-hour power reserve.
Functionality
The ring of numbers around the dial is the date scale. The small central hand points to the current date.
The moon phase complication shows the current phase of the moon. A rotating disc with a golden moon and stars moves slowly around the window, completing a cycle roughly once every 29.5 days.
Look for Your Next Longines at Precision Watches
Are you a fan of Longines watches? If so, you will love the collection at Precision Watches. We offer a wide selection of new watches and pre-owned watches from Longines, Tudor, Omega, and other luxury brands.
You can view our collections at our Lower Gwynedd showroom or browse online. We also buy, trade, and perform authorized watch repairs, supporting you throughout your ownership timeline. Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive products and services.
FAQs
1. Is the Longines Year of the Horse a good everyday watch, or more of a special occasion piece?
The Longines Year of the Horse’s functionality, such as automatic movement and a solid build, makes it a reliable watch for everyday wear. However, its dressy looks make it suitable for formal events.
2. Does Longines make other Chinese zodiac or Lunar New Year editions?
Yes, the Year of the Horse is the continuation of a series of zodiac-themed Longines watches, including the Year of the Dragon and others. Each has a unique color dial and decorative elements with zodiac-specific symbols.
3. Is the Year of the Horse movement chronometer-certified?
No. Although the L899.5 movement is high-quality with a silicon-spring balance, it is not chronometer-certified. It’s built for reliable, everyday accuracy rather than chronometer status.
4. Is the model only available in certain markets (e.g. Asia) or is it global?
The watch was globally released, but its demand may be heavier in markets with a Lunar New Year, so availability can vary by country and boutique.
5. How does the model connect to Longines’ equestrian partnerships?
Although the watch is not a dedicated sports timing tool, the horse motif and timing complication echo the brand’s role as the official timekeeper in major horse races.
