Horology Planet Exhibition Series — 15
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.
OLIVIER KUHN: The Art of Miniature Engraving, Taken to the Extreme
With years of experience as a professional engraver in Geneva and across Switzerland, Olivier Kuhn has built his expertise around the demanding art of miniature engraving. Having restored and revitalized several notable miniature timepieces, he turned to a new challenge: creating a watch inspired by imperial China, conceived and crafted entirely by his own hand.
The result is Pearl of the Dragon, a singular creation that took two years of painstaking work to complete. Every element reflects Kuhn's personal vision, from the sculptural composition to the smallest decorative detail. Rather than simply placing an engraved motif on a dial, he uses the entire volume of the watch case as a stage, creating a richly layered scene that invites exploration from every angle.
At the heart of the composition, an 18K gold Chinese dragon coils majestically above the movement's balance wheel. Engraved in three dimensions, the dragon is designed to be admired from both sides of the case, allowing its sculptural form to emerge fully from the surrounding landscape. The depth and complexity of the miniature setting give the impression of a self-contained world suspended within the watch.
The inspiration comes from one of China's most celebrated examples of imperial decorative art: the Nine-Dragon Wall in Beijing's Forbidden City. Traditionally associated with imperial architecture, the wall depicts powerful dragons moving through an elaborate ornamental landscape. Kuhn translates this visual heritage into a mechanical setting, capturing the dragon's vitality and upward-reaching movement in a composition that feels both monumental and intimate.
In Pearl of the Dragon, the dragon's head and tail point skyward, expressing an unyielding drive to rise. This sense of movement is reinforced by an extraordinary level of hand-finishing. The dragon features 2,185 individually hand-engraved scales, while acrylic paint brings richness and depth to its colours. A fine natural pearl, positioned in the dragon's right front claw, represents the legendary flaming pearl — a symbol deeply rooted in Chinese dragon imagery.
One detail reveals Kuhn's almost obsessive attention to precision. The dragon's eye becomes visible only when the hour and minute hands overlap. This fleeting alignment turns the passage of time into part of the artwork itself: a momentary encounter between mechanical indication and miniature sculpture that rewards attentive observation.
The case is crafted from white gold and assembled without visible screws, preserving the illusion that the dragon floats freely within its surroundings. The effect is one of remarkable visual continuity, allowing the sculptural scene to take centre stage without the distraction of conventional structural details. Beneath this intricate artistic world lies a hand-wound mechanical movement with a 42-hour power reserve, beating at 19,800 vibrations per hour.
Limited to a single example, numbered 1/1, Pearl of the Dragon represents a deeply personal expression of independent watchmaking. It brings together the precision of Swiss engraving, the imaginative force of Chinese imperial art, and the mechanical ingenuity required to turn a miniature sculpture into a functioning timepiece.
Pearl of the Dragon: Where Imperial Art Becomes Mechanical Sculpture
What distinguishes Pearl of the Dragon is the way its craftsmanship serves the artistic vision. The dragon is not a decorative image added to an otherwise conventional watch. Its sculptural form, the surrounding landscape, the carefully positioned pearl, and even the moment when its eye appears are all integral to the experience of the timepiece.
The reference to the Nine-Dragon Wall gives the work a cultural foundation, but Kuhn's interpretation is distinctly personal. Through thousands of hand-engraved details, carefully controlled colour, and a transparent sense of depth, he transforms a monumental symbol of Chinese imperial art into an intimate object designed to be examined at close range.
For collectors, the appeal lies not only in the rarity of a unique watch but also in the direct connection between its creator and the finished work. Conceived and executed by Olivier Kuhn himself over two years, this is a piece in which artistic authorship and technical execution are inseparable.
Presented at the “Forbidden City Divine Craft” Chinese Imperial Aesthetics & Contemporary Creation Exhibition, and the “Horology Planet” International Creative Exhibition, Pearl of the Dragon offers a compelling example of how cultural heritage can inspire contemporary horological art. It is a meeting of Chinese symbolism and Swiss miniature craftsmanship, brought together in a single, extraordinary creation.
Key Specifications
- Model: OK-01
- Collection: La Perle du Dragon
- Edition: Unique piece, numbered 1/1
- Release Date: August 2022
- Case Material: White gold
- Case Diameter: 45.25 mm
- Case Thickness: 19.40 mm
- Strap: Leather
- Clasp: Folding clasp
- Movement: Manual-winding mechanical movement
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Frequency: 19,800 vibrations per hour
- Functions: Hours, minutes
- Dial Decoration: Dragon and hand-engraved landscape
- Water Resistance: 30 metres
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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
