Memorigin Zodiac Series

Memorigin · Zodiac Series

Year of the Fire Horse · 2026

Guardians of the Hours

The Zodiac Series · 2012–2023

China once split the day into twelve double hours, each watched by an animal. From 2012, Memorigin carved one a year into a tourbillon. The Rabbit closed the circle in 2023.

This year　Fire Horse 2026

Next year　Fire Goat 2027

The legend

A race across the river set the order

The Jade Emperor called a race across a river. The order of finishing would name the years.

The Rat promised to wake the Cat, and didn’t. Cats have chased rats ever since.

The Rat rode the Ox and leapt ashore first. The Pig napped and came last.

That order became the years, and the hours. China had a twelve-part clock long before it had clocks.

Wood Horse · galloping horses in relief

The twelve hours

In race order, one animal to a slot

Race order is also the order of the hours.

1

First · Rat

23:00–01:00

Metal Rat2020

Rode the Ox across and leapt ashore first.

CharacterQuick-witted.
StoryMidnight is its hour, when rats are most awake.

Two rats above a sea of clouds; the sun is a copper coin.

Born 1984 · 1996 · 2008 · 2020
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2

Second · Ox

01:00–03:00

Metal Ox2021

Waded across before dawn, only to lose to its passenger.

CharacterPatient, dependable.
StoryIt rests in the small hours, saving its strength for the plough.

An ox on a mountain peak; gold ingots flank the tourbillon.

Born 1985 · 1997 · 2009 · 2021
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3

Third · Tiger

03:00–05:00

Water Tiger2022

Fought the current and came ashore third.

CharacterBrave, a born leader.
StoryIts stripes are said to form the Chinese character for “king”.

A tiger comes down the mountain, under pines that grow gold coins.

Born 1986 · 1998 · 2010 · 2022
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4

Fourth · Rabbit

05:00–07:00

Water Rabbit2023

Hopped the stones, caught a log, came fourth.

CharacterGentle, diplomatic.
StoryIn Vietnam the Cat takes its place.

Two rabbits run beneath the moon over ground strewn with gold.

Born 1987 · 1999 · 2011 · 2023
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5

Fifth · Dragon

07:00–09:00

Water Dragon2012

Stopped to make rain for a village. Fifth.

CharacterAmbitious, larger than life.
StoryThe only mythical creature of the twelve.

A carp becomes a dragon; the tourbillon is the pearl in its claws.

Born 1988 · 2000 · 2012 · 2024
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6

Sixth · Snake

09:00–11:00

Water Snake2013

Hid on the Horse’s hoof and darted out to take sixth.

CharacterCalm, wise.
StoryIn China it is the “little dragon”.

A green snake in spring bamboo, curled into a lucky 8, on a snakeskin strap.

Born 1989 · 2001 · 2013 · 2025
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7

Seventh · Horse

11:00–13:00

This year
Wood Horse2014

Shied from the Snake and came seventh.

CharacterSpirited, free.
StoryA Chinese blessing: “success the moment the horse arrives”.

The eight horses of the classical Eight Steeds painting.

Born 1990 · 2002 · 2014 · 2026
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8

Eighth · Goat

13:00–15:00

Next year
Wood Goat2015

Rafted across with the Monkey and the Rooster. Eighth.

CharacterKind, artistic.
StoryOne Chinese word means goat, sheep and ram alike.

Three goats on a summit. In Chinese, “three goats” sounds like “three suns”: a wish for prosperity.

Born 1991 · 2003 · 2015 · 2027
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9

Ninth · Monkey

15:00–17:00

Monkey King Edition2016

Poled the raft across. Ninth.

CharacterClever, restless.
StoryIn Journey to the West he names himself Great Sage, Equal of Heaven.

Designed by actor Louis Fan: the Monkey King about to storm Heaven. Also in black.

Born 1992 · 2004 · 2016 · 2028
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10

Tenth · Rooster

17:00–19:00

Fire Rooster2017

Spotted the raft first; landed tenth.

CharacterDiligent, punctual.
StoryBefore clocks, its crow told China the sun was up.

A rooster in bamboo, a year in the carving, down to the insects on the leaves.

Born 1993 · 2005 · 2017 · 2029
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11

Eleventh · Dog

19:00–21:00

Earth Dog2018

The best swimmer, but it stopped to play. Eleventh.

CharacterLoyal, honest.
StoryNightfall is its hour, when the gate needs guarding.

A dog stands proud in a forest carved leaf by leaf.

Born 1994 · 2006 · 2018 · 2030
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12

Twelfth · Pig

21:00–23:00

Earth Pig2019

Stopped to eat and nap. Last.

CharacterSincere, content.
StoryThe Chinese character for “home” is a pig beneath a roof.

A round paper-cut pig in an open doorway, gold pouring round the tourbillon.

Born 1995 · 2007 · 2019 · 2031
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The zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year. January and February birthdays may belong to the year before.

Made one year at a time

One animal a year, one full turn of the zodiac

One new animal each New Year from 2012. The Rabbit of 2023, the brand’s twelfth anniversary, completed the set.

DragonWater2012
SnakeWater2013
HorseWood2014
GoatWood2015
MonkeyFire2016
RoosterFire2017
DogEarth2018
PigEarth2019
RatMetal2020
OxMetal2021
TigerWater2022
RabbitWater2023

Movement

One heart beneath every scene

A flying tourbillon at six o’clock turns once a minute beneath each animal. The Monkey King edition is self-winding, in a barrel case.

Movement: Flying tourbillon · hand-wound
Parts: 155 components · 18 jewels
Reserve: 40 hours
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour
Case: Approx. 43mm · water-resistant to 5ATM

Made by: MemoriginA watchmaker devoted to the tourbillon. Movements developed in-house; every watch assembled by hand and quality-checked at the Memorigin Hong Kong R&D Centre.

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