A symbolic expression of time
With the arrival of the Chinese New Year, we enter the Year of the Fire Horse. A powerful symbol of energy, movement, independence, and passion. It marks moments when motion prevails over stillness and intention over habit. At Sartory-Billard, watches are conceived not as trends, but as personal objects shaped by meaning. The SB04-E Fire Horse Edition translates this philosophy into form, capturing a year defined by momentum and spirit within a sculpted dial where time becomes a deliberate gesture.
The Fire Horse, a year that refuses stillness
In the lunar calendar, the meeting of Fire and Horse is never subtle. Fire accelerates what the Horse already embodies: forward drive, instinct, and an uncompromising will. Historically, Fire Horse years are remembered as periods of rupture rather than comfort — times when structures are questioned and individuals assert their independence.
In East Asian culture, the Fire Horse earned a reputation for being disruptive because it refuses to obey convention. It is a sign of choice over tradition, movement over stability, and action taken without hesitation.
An engraved scene, an artistic dialogue
At the heart of the watch lies a 24-carat gold-plated brass dial conceived as a living surface. Based on an original drawing by Armand Billard, the scene is laser-engraved by our partner artist engraver Ron Elkins, revealing a horse caught mid-motion, surrounded by swirling forms that evoke wind, speed, and tension. Light travels across each engraved line, creating depth and contrast while expressing the raw vitality and independence long associated with the horse. The dial does not illustrate the Fire Horse — it channels its force.
The dial as a moving surface
Machined in Switzerland, the dial undergoes multiple transformations before reaching its final form. After engraving in the United States, it returns to Switzerland for thick gold plating, enhancing both contrast and durability. The final Chinese ink highlighting is applied by hand by Armand Billard in France, reinforcing the engraved relief and giving the scene its final intensity.
No two dials are strictly identical. Variations in engraving depth, ink application, and light reflection ensure that each piece carries its own presence.
Form around your wrist
The watch is delivered on a red leather strap, a color traditionally associated with luck, celebration, and renewal during the Chinese New Year. Other strap colors are available upon request at the same price, to be confirmed after the order is placed.
The watch
The SB04-E case, crafted in stainless steel, features alternating brushed and polished surfaces that emphasize its architectural design. Compact yet assertive, it balances elegance with presence while offering everyday versatility.
Diamond-cut hands and applied indexes ensure clarity and legibility, allowing the engraved dial to remain the focal point without compromising function.
A limited series, a singular object
Strictly limited to 26 individually numbered pieces from X01 to X26, this edition belongs to the serialized Sartory-Billard SB04-E case series. Each watch is the result of an international dialogue of craftsmanship: the dial is machined in Switzerland in our Sainte-Croix workshop, laser-engraved by Ron Elkins in the United States, then returned to Switzerland for thick gold plating. The Chinese ink highlighting and final assembly are carried out by Armand Billard in the Sartory-Billard workshop in France.
Each piece stands alone — a convergence of cultural symbolism, artistic expression, and contemporary horology — created not to follow time, but to engage with it.
