The Inaugural Dubai Watch Week, Including Live Images
During the 18th – 22nd of October, Dubai opened its doors to watch lovers to participate in Dubai’s first watch week event. Dubai Watch Week is a combination of educational seminars, round table discussions, retail events and a chance to exhibit valuable watches. As well as this, a showcase of the watches that’ll be participating in the upcoming Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve watch industry awards show will be available. The event was created through a partnership of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons and the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Michael Schumacher Laptimer was on display
“The lust for greater knowledge of watchmaking continues to rapidly grow in the Middle East, which has become a key export market during the last several decades,” says Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, vice-chairman of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. “Dubai Watch Week is being established as a leading platform for education, debate and discovery into the world’s most innovative and covetable timepieces.”
Nowadays, Dubai is synonymous with Luxury and this, of course, includes watches. Dubai Watch Week will surely be welcomed into this unique Middle East region, often praised for its general liberal culture, fast-paced business environment, and impressive architecture. Beyond this, the city boasts and impressive volume of luxury watch sales to both locals and visitors. A member of the Luxe Watches team went to go and experience the event first hand, and has given me a great insight into the show and some great photos to share.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Grand Complication Rose Gold
Dubai Watch Week hopes to attract a young but already crucial market, however the exhibition isn’t financially based. Instead, it is hoping to increase the public’s appreciation for watchmaking. The experience on offer is one that has, until now, been mostly reserved for private clients.
According to the President of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, Carlo Lapretch, “The most spectacular element is that private individuals who are hardly let into the watch fairs, will be able to look at the watch, touch the watch, talk to the watchmaker, and even take the watch apart and put it back together with him.”
The owner and creative director of watch brand MB&F, who permanently moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2014, says Dubai will be a “sanctuary” to the watchmaking industry. He also goes on to say watchmakers are an “endangered species”, and that they need to come together to protect the art.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Grand Complication Stainless Steel
The event adds to an already busy schedule for the world of horology, with Watches & Wonders in Hong Kong, and SalonQP – an event to be held in the Saatchi Gallery in London (with Luxe Watches in attendance). I hope to see Dubai Watch Week establish itself as a major player in terms of luxury watch exhibition. It offers a different dimension to others, with the focus being on the art of watchmaking as opposed to the watches themselves.
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