The Chinese calendar is rather complex, as it combines elements of the solar and lunar calendars, calculated separately and then synchronised. This is achieved by adding an extra lunar or intercalary month and this 13th month, which makes the two cycles coincide, occurs roughly every three years. Furthermore, the Chinese calendar divides the solar year into 24 solar terms, or breaths, symbolising the agricultural calendar and New Year's Day falls between 21 January and 20 February, coinciding with the second new moon after the winter solstice.
Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which names months and numbers years, the Chinese calendar names lunar years and numbers months. The names of the years are repeated on a 60-year sexagesimal cycle, but the calendar including dates, days and months is calculated on the basis of astronomical observations and varies. Since these calculations change, it is impossible to create a 'perpetual' Chinese calendar. The numbering system of the units of time is based on the combination of a decimal cycle, the ten Heavenly Legs, and a duodecimal cycle, the twelve Earthly Branches.
Tonda PF Xiali by Parmigiani Fleurier has a case (42 mm) and integrated bracelet made of steel and a platinum bezel. The indications, displayed on the imperial red dial, are as follows: name of the year/animal and its element at 12 o'clock (and association with the yīn-yáng cycle; indication of the number of the day of the month (from 1 to 29 or from 1 to 30, depending on the length of the month) at 3 o'clock, with a window indicating the length of the current one; moon phases at 6 o'clock; indication of the number of the month (from 1 to 12) with a window for the extra-lunar month at 9 o'clock.
The movement is the PF008 calibre (28,800 vibrations per hour, 42 jewels, 54-hour power reserve), finely decorated, visible from the back side, mechanical automatic and with a 22-carat pink gold skeletonised rotor.
Price: 59,000 Swiss francs.
