Jade Rabbit Rises to the Sky: 2023 Year of the Rabbit Limited Edition Concrete Mechanical Watch
Year of Kui Mao（癸卯）, four-dimensional space turns into a ladder to the rolling clouds; the jade rabbit makes a leap, thousands of miles shine in silver moonlight.
22STUDIO X 兩個八月BIAUGUST
People from ancient times said ”golden crow in the sun, jade rabbit in the moon”, the golden crow and the jade rabbit are the incarnations of the sun and the moon respectively. Look at them from a modern perspective, the sunspots probably had been imagined to be crows, and the uneven surfaces of the moon created the image of the rabbit. ”Crows fly and hares run”is a Chinese metaphor for the cycles of the sun and the moon, and the passing of time . ”Jade Rabbit” has also become synonymous with the moon and time.
For this limited edition Year of the Rabbit watch, we have invited 兩個八月BIAUGUST to collaborate; a studio active in the art and design fields and its founder’s zodiac sign happens to be the Rabbit. The designer elegantly transformed 22STUDIO’s signature 4D space and the Ups and Downs 3D dial into an interesting scene with jumping rabbits, two automatic watches for men and women with the theme of “Jade Rabbit” were created.
Jade rabbit rises in the east, thousands of miles shine in silver moonlight : Mechanical watches for men and women making their debut hand in hand
This time we launched two mechanical watches limited to Year of the Rabbit at one go: men’s ”4D Concrete Watch Automatic”and women’s ”Ups & Downs Rectangular Concrete Watch Maunal Wind”. A bright moon hangs over the upper left corner of the two watches, it symbolizes the peaceful image of "Jade rabbit rises in the east, thousands of miles shine in silver moonlight" in the night sky with a full moon.
In men’s watch, the auspicious clouds around the bright moon transformed into eight agile rabbits, crouching over the spiral-staircase dial of the four-dimensional space. Women’s watch has two energetic rabbits jumped out of the up-and-down slope looking at the moon, exquisitely display the beauty of craftsmanship in concrete material.
22STUDIO The first women’s mechanical watch: with brand new old stock movement same as in Cartier's
For a long time, rectangular-framed watches, especially for women, have undeniably been the perfect interpretation of elegance and personality. Structurally, year of the rabbit women’s mechanical watch consists of 20 flat parts. The composition is inspired by geometry sculpture and origami; a style which combines grace, fortitude and wearing comfort, layering the classic look with a modern touch at the same time .
The most unique thing is that it’s the first batch specially paired with a private collection of ETA 2512-1 manual wind movements from our watch master; this movement was widely used in Cartier’s tank series in the 70s and 80s. Since its discontinuation, there are only 88 brand-new old stock movements available on the market. Finely polished and delicately slim cut, when molded with 22STUDIO’s iconic architectural 3D concrete dial, the thickness is only 10.5mm, ensuring total comfort when wearing it on the wrist.
Ups & Downs: Moon-viewing rabbit couple, happy together
Ups & Downs Concrete Watch has been loved since its launch, this time the dial is redesigned to be rectangular. Two rabbits vividly jumped out one after the other, their playful moves make people smile. From the posture of closely leaning on each other, one can feel that they are a pair of deeply affectionate companions, as well as the emotional connection between relatives and friends. It seems to be telling whether the moon is dark or bright, half or full, they only wish to be together supporting each other, forever and ever.
Four dimensions: Fortune pouring in from clouds ridden by eight rabbits
In men‘s watch, the auspicious clouds around the bright moon transformed into eight agile rabbits, crouching over the spiral-staircase dial of the 4D Concrete Watch. The rabbits gallop and leap forward, showing an unstoppable momentum. In addition to challenging our precise technique pouring cement into the multi-level structure, it is also closely linked with the image that the ancients entrusted the rabbit with auspiciousness and blessings.
Stable and durable Swiss automatic movement
For men’s , we use Swiss Sellita SW200-1 automatic wind movement SW200-1: vibrations per hour 28‘ 800bph, maximum power reserve is 38 hours, accuracy of +/- 20 sec/day, standard three hands of hour, minute and second, date display.
For women‘s , we use Swiss ETA 2512-1 manual wind movement: vibrations per hour 21‘ 600bph, maximum power reserve is 44 hours, accuracy of +/- 30 sec/day, standard two hands.
Hand-cured 14-day aged concrete dial
22STUDIO developed its own formula of concrete, which can quickly solidify and form, with low shrinkage and high strength. Moreover, after each dial mold has been manually filled with concrete, it will stay in the“aging room” with constant temperature and humidity for 14 days. Similar to aging beef or red wine, this process can maximize the structural strength of concrete, as well as producing a uniquely natural texture on the surface.
Sapphire crystal glass case-back with limited edition serial number
22STUDIO uses sapphire crystal glass for all of our wristwatch series. The hardness of sapphire crystal glass is second only to the hardness of diamonds, with a Mohs hardness of 9. With high degree of hardness, it‘s less likely to leave scratching marks. Optical permeability helps time reading fast and easy, along with other advantages such as low friction and high temperature resistance.
For Year of the Rabbit limited edition concrete mechanical watch, men’s and women’s are limited to 88 pieces each. The case back comes with its own laser-engraved serial number, making this watch one of a kind and highly collectable.
“Silver grass” model : gentle and persevering
For men
316L stainless steel case with brushed finish treatment, beige-gray concrete dial, Super-LumiNova golden
hands, gold-plated and polished stainless steel for the well-shaped magnifying glass date window in the
10 o’clock corner, brown vegetable tanned leather strap with stitching.
For women
316L stainless steel case in polished gloss finish, beige-gray concrete dial, golden hands, gold-plated
stainless steel moon in the 11 o’clock corner, brown vegetable tanned leather strap.
“Moss green” model : generous and straightforward
For men
Black PVD case in matte finish, cement-gray concrete dial, gold-plated and polished stainless steel for
the well-shaped magnifying glass date window in the 10 o’clock corner, Super-LumiNova matte black hands,
olive-green fluoro-rubber (Viton) strap.
For women
Black PVD case in matte finish, pine-green concrete dial, gold-plated stainless steel moon in the 11
o’clock corner, matte black hands, green vegetable tanned leather strap.
