Horology Planet Exhibition Series — 09
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.
JEAYOU: A Watchmaker's Perspective on Leather Craft
JEAYOU, also known as JU, began with a simple frustration. Founded by watch enthusiasts with a deep appreciation for mechanical timepieces, the brand emerged from the search for high-quality straps worthy of the watches they loved. Finding a gap in the domestic market, its founders set out to create straps that could meet the expectations of discerning collectors.
In 2018, JEAYOU began tackling one of the industry's more demanding challenges: developing high-quality crocodile leather and refining the craftsmanship required to work with it. According to the brand, more than three years of research and development, spanning over 30,000 hours, went into mastering the process.
This commitment to craftsmanship extends beyond material selection. JEAYOU places particular emphasis on the details that define a finished strap, from the feel of the leather to the precision of its edges and stitching. Its approach combines technical development with a willingness to explore new materials, construction methods, and visual languages.
The brand's Chinese zodiac collection represents another dimension of this philosophy. Drawing inspiration from traditional imagery, historical references, and the symbolic meanings of the zodiac animals, JEAYOU translates familiar cultural motifs into contemporary leather accessories. The result is a form of design that allows personal expression and cultural storytelling to coexist on the wrist.
For the “Forbidden City Divine Craft” exhibition, JEAYOU presents two creations: Bingwu Horse — Galloping Through the Years with Golden Resolve and Yisi Snake — Life Without End. Each offers a different interpretation of the Chinese zodiac through leather, geometry, and carefully considered details.
Bingwu Horse — Galloping Through the Years with Golden Resolve
Chinese Zodiac Collection | 丙午马·金戈驰岁
Inspired by the spirit of legendary warhorses, the expressive lines of Xu Beihong's galloping horses, and the strength of the Tang dynasty's horizontal saber.
JEAYOU's Bingwu Horse — Galloping Through the Years with Golden Resolve is conceived as more than a zodiac-themed watch strap. It represents the determination to move beyond obstacles, face challenges with courage, and keep moving forward.
The design draws on several strands of Chinese cultural heritage. Its spirit recalls the celebrated Song dynasty poet Xin Qiji's imagery of iron-clad cavalry and the sweeping force of galloping warhorses. Rather than treating this historical reference as a literal illustration, JEAYOU translates its sense of courage and momentum into a contemporary design language.
A second source of inspiration comes from Xu Beihong's iconic paintings of galloping horses. Known for their powerful movement and expressive brushwork, these works capture the horse as a symbol of vitality, determination, and forward momentum. JEAYOU distills the energy of the airborne horse into a distinctive emblem that incorporates the visual essence of the Chinese character for “horse” (马). The result connects traditional calligraphic form with the movement and character of the animal.
The smaller details continue the narrative. The strap's tapered end takes inspiration from the Tang dynasty's horizontal saber, introducing a sharper, more assertive silhouette that echoes the idea of Jinge, or the weapons of war. A leather loop is available with motifs of either a pine tree or a traditional gold ingot. The pine symbolizes resilience and endurance, while the ingot represents prosperity. Both offer an auspicious interpretation of the Chinese expression mǎ shàng, which can suggest something happening immediately when paired with different words — giving rise to playful wishes for ease and good fortune.
Material selection reinforces the design's connection to the past. JEAYOU uses two types of vegetable-tanned leather: a rugged, vintage-inspired Harley leather and Badalassi Pueblo leather, known for its distinctive matte, textured finish. Both offer a substantial yet supple feel and develop individual character through wear, gradually forming a shape that reflects the wearer's wrist and habits.
The color palette draws inspiration from celebrated horses in Chinese history, bringing their distinctive character into a modern accessory. Through its combination of historical references, leather craftsmanship, and symbolic details, Bingwu Horse becomes a wearable expression of courage, ambition, and the determination to find one's own way forward.
Design Highlights
- Collection: Chinese Zodiac Collection
- Theme: The Year of the Horse
- Cultural References: Xin Qiji's poetry, Xu Beihong's galloping horses, and the Tang dynasty horizontal saber
- Materials: Vegetable-tanned leather, including Harley leather and Badalassi Pueblo leather
- Design Details: Horse-inspired emblem, saber-shaped strap tail, and pine tree or gold ingot leather-loop motifs
- Design Inspiration: Courage, resilience, forward momentum, and prosperity
Yisi Snake — Life Without End
Chinese Zodiac Collection | 乙巳蛇·生生不息
An ancient Chinese creation myth reinterpreted through minimalist geometry and JEAYOU's distinctive leather-inlay craftsmanship.
In Chinese tradition, the snake carries meanings that extend far beyond its physical form. It appears in ancient creation myths, symbolic imagery, and the broader cultural understanding of the natural world's cycles of transformation and renewal.
JEAYOU's Yisi Snake — Life Without End takes inspiration from the ancient Chinese image of Fuxi and Nüwa, two mythological figures traditionally depicted with human upper bodies and serpent tails. Their intertwined forms have come to represent the relationship between complementary forces, the origins of human civilization, and the continuity of life.
Rather than reproducing the figures in a literal or elaborate form, JEAYOU extracts the essence of their intertwined serpent bodies and reinterprets it through clean, double-curved geometric lines. This minimalist approach creates a contemporary motif that retains a connection to ancient Chinese symbolism while fitting naturally into modern watch styling.
The concept also reflects a broader evolution in cultural imagery. Over centuries, traditional animal totems have moved from detailed figurative representations toward increasingly abstract forms. By reducing the serpent to a refined geometric composition, JEAYOU continues this process of reinterpretation, allowing an ancient symbol to find relevance in a contemporary accessory.
The defining technical feature is the brand's leather-inlay craftsmanship. Different colors of leather are carefully combined to create a unified composition, rather than simply applied as separate decorative layers. This technique introduces contrast and depth while preserving the tactile qualities of the material. The result is a design in which the leather itself becomes the medium for cultural expression.
The color palette brings together Chinese red, earth-inspired yellow, and life-affirming green. These colors evoke the vitality of the natural world and the enduring spirit of Chinese culture. Arranged within the flowing geometric motif, they create a sense of movement and upward growth, reinforcing the theme of continuous renewal.
With its restrained form and distinctive material treatment, Yisi Snake offers an alternative to overtly figurative zodiac accessories. It combines the symbolism of an ancient creation myth with a modern aesthetic, allowing the wearer to express an appreciation for Chinese cultural heritage through subtle details rather than elaborate ornamentation.
The result is a watch strap that speaks to continuity and change at once: a traditional symbol, reimagined through contemporary geometry and the craft of leather inlay.
Design Highlights
- Collection: Chinese Zodiac Collection
- Theme: The Year of the Snake
- Cultural References: Fuxi and Nüwa, ancient Chinese creation mythology, and serpent symbolism
- Signature Technique: Multicolored leather inlay
- Design Language: Minimalist double-curve geometry
- Color Palette: Chinese red, earth-inspired yellow, and green
- Design Inspiration: Renewal, continuity, balance, and the enduring vitality of Chinese culture
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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
