Horology Planet Exhibition Series — 21
In October 2026, Beijing becomes a meeting point for Chinese imperial aesthetics, traditional craftsmanship, and contemporary design. Held at the National Foreign Cultural Trade Base (Beijing), the “Forbidden City Divine Craft” Chinese Imperial Aesthetics & Contemporary Creation Exhibition and the “Horology Planet” International Creative Exhibition bring together a range of creative works that explore the connections between Eastern cultural heritage and modern craftsmanship.
The exhibition is about more than the objects on display. It also asks how traditional art forms can continue to evolve, finding new relevance through modern materials, innovative design, and precision engineering. From decorative techniques rooted in imperial workshops to the intricacies of independent watchmaking, the works on show offer different perspectives on how the past can inform the present.
As part of this exhibition series, Horology Planet takes a closer look at the participating watch brands and the ideas behind their creations.
MERKUR: Contemporary Watchmaking with an Artistic Perspective
MERKUR is a Chinese affordable-luxury watch brand committed to offering watch enthusiasts around the world thoughtfully designed timepieces with a strong emphasis on quality and value. The brand places considerable importance on detail and craftsmanship, supported by a rigorous quality-control process intended to maintain consistent standards across its collections.
Its designs reflect the creative contributions of designers from Shanghai and Hong Kong, bringing together varied artistic perspectives and a willingness to explore unconventional forms. MERKUR also expanded its presence in the Chinese watch industry in 2019 by acquiring brands including PIERRE PAULIN, FOD, and SEIZENN, broadening its portfolio while continuing to develop its own identity.
The Dan Chen Tian Gong collection represents a particularly artistic direction within MERKUR's work. Rather than relying on familiar palace motifs as surface decoration, the collection uses hand-painted dials to capture the changing atmosphere of the Forbidden City across three seasons. Each watch combines a miniature painted scene with an exposed coaxial tourbillon at six o'clock, placing traditional visual storytelling alongside the movement of modern mechanical watchmaking.
The collection comprises three individually limited pieces: Dan Chen Tian Gong · Spring, Dan Chen Tian Gong · Autumn, and Dan Chen Tian Gong · Winter. Each design is produced in a single example, making the complete three-watch set an exceptionally small series. Together, they explore the restrained elegance of imperial aesthetics through three distinct seasonal moods.
The Dan Chen Tian Gong Collection: Spring, Autumn, and Winter
Dan Chen Tian Gong · Spring
Inspired by the spring gardens and palace architecture of the Forbidden City, the Spring edition evokes the gentle brightness of the season through a miniature hand-painted dial. Drawing on the visual language of Qing imperial paintings, the artwork depicts palace walls, flowering trees, and the delicate interplay of light and color beneath traditional eaves. The painter applies mineral-inspired colors in successive translucent layers, creating depth and atmosphere through individual brushstrokes rather than industrial printing. No two hand-painted dials are exactly alike.
At six o'clock, an open coaxial tourbillon introduces a dynamic mechanical element to the otherwise tranquil composition. Its visible movement creates a contrast between the stillness of the painted spring landscape and the precision of the mechanism. Three-dimensional hands, shaped through hydraulic forming and finished with diamond-cut polished edges, add another layer of watchmaking detail. The result is a miniature palace landscape in which traditional artistry and contemporary mechanical engineering coexist in a carefully balanced design.
Dan Chen Tian Gong · Autumn
The Autumn edition draws on one of the Forbidden City's most evocative seasonal scenes: red palace walls framed by falling leaves and the muted warmth of late autumn. Inspired by traditional Qing court painting, the dial uses layered hand-painted color to capture the contrast between architectural grandeur and the quiet movement of nature. Golden rooflines, deep vermilion walls, and sparse silhouettes of trees create a composition that feels contemplative rather than ornamental. The handmade process preserves the painter's individual marks, giving the dial its own character.
The 18-jewel high-beat coaxial tourbillon operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, while the blued hairspring and blue-steel escape wheel contribute to the movement's technical and visual character. Sandblasted bridges provide a finely textured matte finish, complementing the depth of the painted scene. Positioned at six o'clock, the tourbillon disrupts the dial's conventional symmetry, while the arrangement of colors and painted forms restores a sense of visual balance. Sculpted hands with diamond-cut polished edges complete this interpretation of the palace in autumn.
Dan Chen Tian Gong · Winter
The Winter edition captures the Forbidden City beneath a covering of snow. Pale rooftops, snow-laden palace walls, and the quiet outlines of traditional architecture evoke the solemn beauty of the imperial capital in winter. Taking inspiration from historical court paintings of snowy landscapes, the dial is created entirely by hand, with multiple translucent layers used to convey the depth and clarity of snow against the palace's architectural forms. The softly nuanced palette avoids the flatness of printed decoration, giving the scene a sense of stillness and atmosphere.
The open coaxial tourbillon at six o'clock remains a defining feature, its mechanical motion set against the calm of the painted winter landscape. The 18-jewel high-beat movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and incorporates a blued hairspring, a blue-steel escape wheel, and sandblasted bridges. Three-dimensional hands, formed through hydraulic techniques and finished with diamond-cut polished edges, reinforce the collection's attention to detail. In this edition, the contrast between snow-covered architecture and moving mechanical components becomes a reflection on time itself: a fleeting season preserved through artistic skill and precision engineering.
Specifications — All Three Models
- Case Material: 316L stainless steel, fully polished
- Case Diameter: 42 mm
- Case Thickness: 12.5 mm
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal on both front and back
- Movement: MERKUR Fanzhi 18-jewel high-beat coaxial tourbillon
- Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
- Power Reserve: 40 hours
- Movement Details: Blued hairspring, blue-steel escape wheel, sandblasted bridges
- Hands: Three-dimensional hydraulically formed hands with diamond-cut polished edges
- Crown: Flat onion-shaped crown
- Strap: Quick-release matte leather strap
- Clasp: Proprietary folding clasp
- Edition: One piece per seasonal design; three watches in total across Spring, Autumn, and Winter
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Exhibition Guide
- Exhibition Name: “Forbidden City Divine Craft” Chinese Imperial Aesthetics & Contemporary Creation Exhibition, and the “Horology Planet” International Creative Exhibition
- Opening Date: October 23, 2026
- Exhibition Dates: October 23, 2026 – December 16, 2026
- Venue: 3rd Floor Art Space, Building D7, National Foreign Cultural Trade Base (Beijing), No. 3 Jinhang East Road, Shunyi District, Beijing
- Organizer: National Foreign Cultural Trade Base (Beijing)
- Academic Support: Research Group on Qing Dynasty Court Craftsmanship Inheritance Examples, The Palace Museum; Watchina
- Executive Curator: Horology Planet
