Note that the price of the Imperial is 1788 Singapore dollars (approx 1280 USD)

PART OF CELADON'S TENTH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION - CELEBRATING A DECADE OF FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT, OF MAKING PROUDLY CHINESE WATCHES AND SAVING HOMELESS DOGS

The Imperial Plum Blossom in Celadon will be the first and last 50 pieces to be produced in this configuration and with the CG18 movement. After these 50 pieces are finished, no more will ever be made.

The Imperial was our very first design, and our pride and joy when we first launched our brand in August 2012. It remains the cornerstone of Celadon, and the purest expression of what we consider a characteristically Chinese watch - elegant, refined, graceful, yet warm and charming - just like the ancient land of its ancestry.

The Plum Blossom guilloche is inspired by the dials of vintage Chinese watches of the 1950s and '60s, but improved both in refinement and quality of craftsmanship. In Chinese culture, the plum blossom is a symbol of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, as they bloom most vibrantly in the deepest winter snow. 

The Imperial in the inimitable celadon blue-green colour is our new flagship of the Imperial family, and alludes to the exquisite jade-esque ceramic tradition that originated in Longquan, Zhejiang province. For centuries, celadon ware (qingci) was highly regarded by both the Chinese Imperial court, as well as European traders who brought them home and coined the French name "celadon". The similarity of the colour to jade, traditionally the most highly valued material in China, played a great role in its esteem. Celadon classically ranges in colour from a rich green to a more bluish hue. It is the latter, taken from our Founder's favourite teacup, and which we consider the more aesthetically pleasing shade, that we chose for our flagship Imperial.

The Imperial's curvaceous teardrop lugs case echoes the swooping eaves of classical Chinese architecture and furniture. 

The Celadon-Grade B18 movement, made by Beijing Watch Manufactory exclusively in a higher-grade for us and tested stringently through three layers of quality control, shines with its characteristic Chinese Scroll Stripes and calligraphic engraving in gold, amidst four gold chatons and a constellation of blued screws.

The latest version of the CG18 movement used here is produced with a very finely sandblasted plate for a more contemporary finish, instead of the striping used in previous Imperials, with the same engraved calligraphy in gold.

The strap shown is a bespoke hand-stitched strap in Epsom. The stock strap included will be different (see below). If you wish for the same bespoke strap, please let us know after you place your order by contacting our Concierge by email.

On the new “One of Fifty” numbering - feedback we received from previous generations of Imperials was that most people could not receive the number they chose out of 50, and the old numbering really made only the single person who got 1/50 happy, and all the others less so. So the current numbering system attempts to satisfy all, by offering a clean numbering rather than a random number out of fifty. And don't forget that your watch is one of only fifty ever made, with all the exclusivity that entails.

Technical Specifications of the Imperial

General -

• 5 year global warranty

Movement -

• Celadon-Grade B18 with bespoke calligraphic engraving
• handwinding movement
• 21,600 vph
• approx 42 hour power reserve

Dial and Hands -

• oil-pressed guilloche dial
• double-faceted hour and minute dauphine hands 

Case -

• 316L stainless steel 
• voluptuous teardrop lugs case
• screwed down caseback
• 50m water resistant
• 38mm case diameter
• 9.4mm thin
• 20mm strap width at lugs
• front and rear sapphire crystal

Strap -

• signed tang buckle
• navy leather-rubber water-resistant strap
• a wide range of ready-made and bespoke straps available as options