Culture has wrapped around time for thousands of years, and the white ceramic dial has accumulated a long history of brilliance. On January 10, 2015, the renowned Chinese cutting-edge watch brand Zhang Dao held a press conference in Beijing titled "Zhang Rice 2015 Basel Watch Fair," marking the beginning of the final series before the 2015 Basel trip — "Oracle - Silk Road." Inspired by the traditional Chinese inscriptions "Oracle" and "Silk Road," Zhang Dao combined the craftsmanship of Luoyang San Cai masters, merging traditional Chinese artistry with modern design. The collaboration brought together many traditional experts, and the two series made their global debut at Baselworld 2015, showcasing the beauty of Eastern culture to the world.
The Oracle script was first unearthed in Xiaotun Village, Yin Ruins, Anyang, Henan Province. It is the largest collection of early Chinese characters with a systematic structure, playing a vital role in the development of Chinese writing. From its glyphs, structure, meaning, and grammar, Oracle shares the same roots as today's Chinese characters, making it the origin of the written language. During the Shang Dynasty, besides the Oracle, there were also advanced methods of measuring time. According to historical records, the Yin Dynasty used the branch method to calculate dates — a unique timekeeping system still in use today. Divination divided the day into precise moments such as Ming (Dan), Da Xue, Xiao Xue, etc., showing that the Shang era had already achieved remarkable precision in time measurement.
As a respected element of Chinese culture, Zhang Dao's watches are crafted by master artisans, embedding deep cultural charm. The "Oracle - Silk Road" series, introduced at Baselworld 2015, marked a historic moment by incorporating Oracle script as a clock scale for the first time. This not only represented the essence of Shang culture but also symbolized the origins of Chinese civilization. With its global exposure, the series highlighted the profound influence of Han culture on the watchmaking industry.
Zhang Dao also became the first to feature the Chinese zodiac in hand-painted oracle dials. The zodiac, with its one-to-one correspondence with the twelve localities in traditional Chinese culture, reflects the deep astronomical achievements of ancient China. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, China had already developed an equatorial coordinate system, far ahead of the Greeks who recorded their catalogues centuries later. These achievements laid the foundation for future timekeeping advancements. By combining Oracle and the Silk Road on the dial, Zhang Dao recreated the essence of Chinese civilization, allowing the world to witness the birth of the clock from China.
Behind the two series, Zhang Dao gathered top digital technology experts to support the production process. The "Oracle-Silk Road" series emphasized the inheritance and promotion of traditional Chinese craftsmanship. In Luoyang, Henan — the origin of Oracle and the starting point of the Silk Road — the famous Luoyang San Cai art was revived. Master Guo Ai, a leading figure in San Cai craftsmanship, collaborated with Zhang Dao to paint the ancient glaze technique onto ceramic dials. Their work, showcased at the Louvre in 2011, represents a pioneering effort in Chinese ceramics. The "three-color glaze painting" technique, based on traditional San Cai, uses unique glazes and firing methods to create vibrant, expressive artworks. This collaboration revealed the core manual craftsmanship of San Cai on the watch dial, bringing together the heritage of Oracle and the richness of the Silk Road.
At the press conference, Zhang Dao's representatives, including Mr. Zhang Shuyang, were joined by officials from the China Watch Association and experts from the watch industry. They shared insights on the significance of integrating Chinese elements into watch design, particularly the groundbreaking use of Oracle script as a dial scale. Through these details, they offered a glimpse into the cultural depth and artistic inspiration behind the collection.
Zhang Dao's mission is to elevate the spirit of craftsmanship and bring together tradition and innovation. With the support of the China Watch Association, the brand will present its creations at Baselworld, carrying the symbols of Chinese civilization onto the global stage. The grand momentum of Chinese culture is about to captivate the world — let’s wait and see!
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