Dubai Watch Week 2017

Prestige issue 287-288, Dec. Jan. 2017-2018

A shared passion

In three years, the Dubai Watch Week (DWW) became an unmissable event on the annual calendar of the watchmaking world. Founded in 2015 by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, one of the largest retailers of Swiss watch brands in the region, this platform, with its essentially didactic approach, is dedicated to preserving the heritage and culture of watchmaking. It is a gathering point in Dubai for collectors, connoisseurs, amateurs, brands, independent, watchmakers and journalists, to debate, discuss and share passion, know-how and knowledge in a friendly and intimate environment. Creative Hubs, discussion forums, Auction Room, exhibitions, and master classes were on the program for this third edition of the DWW, which took place from November 16 to 20, 2017, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Ben Rashid el Maktoum, vice president of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. A warm atmosphere, a shared passion, a timeless experience…

 

Dubai Watch Week under the gate of DIFC. © DWW 2017

 

Trade shows

The main exhibition of the 2017 edition of the DWW, Classic & Contemporary, presents the evolution of the watch industry through timepieces of traditional brands such as Vacheron Constantin, A. Lange &Sohne, Audemars Piguet, Zenith or Panerai, independent creative craftsmen (such as MB & F, Journe FP, Grönfeld) through the contemporary brands (such as Hublot, Richard Mille, Romain Jerome), who exhibited historical creations and their latest achievements. Visitors could also admire the most beautiful watches creations of the year that won the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), exhibited in a hall dedicated specially to these timepieces. A rare opportunity to see gathered under one roof, so many exceptional pieces.

 

The FHH at DWW

For the third year, the Haute Horlogerie Foundation was present at Dubai Watch Week with several activities. Curator of Telling Time, this exhibition invited the visitor to wonder about the perception of time, its vocabulary, its duration and its meaning by giving to see the time differently through an unprecedented parallel between ten projections of works signed by international artists and a selection of 29 Haute Horlogerie models, each in its own way, reinterpreting the traditional vocabulary of time. Time travel and total immersion with Mastery of Time, experiences of virtual realities to discover the instruments of timepieces by immersing themselves in three interactive adventures: use a flyback chronograph driving a Grumman F6F-5 in full storm; handle a marine chronometer similar to those used by sailors in the XIXth century aboard an impressive three-master; connect London to Edinburgh at the controls of a steam locomotive, equipped with a Geneva Universal train watch … Fun, physical and educational at the same time.

 

Kurt Klaus, legendary Watchmaker at IWC, surrounded by participants in his Watchmaking Class. Initiation of the youngest to watchmaking art. © DWW 2017

 

«A watch must transcend time, fashion and generations to be a true icon …»

Pascal Ravessoud, Secretary General of the Cultural Council of the FHH, at the Icons & Classics forum.

 

Auction Room

In collaboration with Christie’s, and for the first time in the region, an Auction Room allowed visitors to get acquainted with the auction through three segments: the opportunity to have their watch evaluated by a specialist; take part in master classes and learn how to bid at a sale. And because the passion is also learned at a young age, the children also had the right to activities dedicated to these budding collectors.

 

Master Class

Engraving, enameling, miniature painting, had no secrets for the Watch Craft Master Classes participants, where the master craftsmen Tiego Aires Sergio, engraver at Bovet, and Jiyoun Parat-Han of the Vanessa Leccides Workshops have introduced to the public and shared their art and their know-how. To better understand the mechanism and movement of watches, Watchmaking Master Classes were also on the program under the direction of master watchmakers like Kurt Klaus (IWC), David Candaux or Antoine and Florian Preziuso.

 

 

© Prestige

 

Creative Hub

The Creative Hub, a space dedicated to creativity and discovery, was the venue for presentations of innovations (Zenith and Defy Lab) and launches of pre-SIHH collections (Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Roger Dubuis), limited editions (Ferdinand Berthoud) or special editions for Dubai (IWC, Hublot, H. Moser & Cie). An opportunity also for brands to tell their story, like the creative process of Bulgari.

 

Fabrizio Buonamassa, Senior Director Watches Design Center at Bulgari, tells the creative process. © DWW 2017

 

«Creating Haute Horlogerie watches is like creating a piece of art …»

Theo Staub, President Moritz Grossman, at The Independents forum.

 

Pre-SIHH 2018 launch of the Excalibur Aventador S Pink Gold watch from Roger Dubuis, a Lamborghini exclusive limited to 8 copies. © Roger Dubuis

 

 

The IWC Portugieser Hand Wound Toubillon watch, green dial, an exclusive edition for Dubai.Limited to 25 pieces. © IWC
Audemars Piguet presented his pre SIHH 2018 collection: The watch Millenary has an opal dial with details in frosted gold. © Audemars Piguet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hublot Classic Fusion Dubai Independent incorporates a piece of Ghatra, a traditional fabric of the United Arab Emirates, in its dial and bracelet. This special edition is exclusive to Dubai. © Prestige
Mohammed Seddiqi showing the Hublot Classic Fusion Dubai Independent to Maria Nadim and Berthe Daccache. © Prestige

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horology Forum

A major pillar of the Dubai Watch Week, the Horology Forum brought together more than 30 different speakers from all over the world and diverse backgrounds: CEO, watchmakers, curators, journalists, collectors, retailers, independent artisans, writers, historians and professionals of the industry to discuss, exchange and debate themes as varied as Haute Horlogerie and woman; icons and classics; independents and innovations, the importance of marketing, etc.

 

Full house during a debate at the Forum de l’Horlogerie. © DWW 2017

 

«The year 2017 will always be the year when the Paul Newman watch (Rolex) was sold for $ 17 million!»

John Reardon, International Director Watches at Christie’s, at the Icons & Classics forum.

 

Unveiled during DWW, the Urwerk UR-210 Dubai, a unique piece engraved by Florian Güllert, takes on the theme of the magic and excessiveness of Dubai, a magnetic and maddening megapolis. © Urwerk
RJ-Romain Jérôme unveils the Skylab Batman, a new 75-piece limited edition that takes a new look at «The Dark Knight». Skeleton movement with straight lines, Batman wall lamp filled with SLN, Gotham City Plan on the sapphire crystal. © RJ Romain Jerome

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

«Independent Watch Houses have greater freedom in creation …»

Pascal Raffy, owner of Bovet, at The Independents forum.

 

Gala dinner

It was during a gala dinner held at the Ritz Carlton DIFC that Dubai Watch Week started in the presence of VIPs, CEOs and representatives of the participating brands and the DWW Committee. The evening was marked by a great atmosphere and welcoming speeches by Melika Yazdjerdi, DWW Director and Head of Corporate Communication at Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Chief Marketing Officer of Seddiqi Holding, and Remy Julia, Christie’s Watch Specialist. From Dubai, Maria Nadim

 

Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Chief Marketing Officer of Seddiqi Holding. © DWW 2017

 

Abdul Hamied A. Seddiqi, Vice President of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, surrounded by Muna Mohammed Seddiqi and Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi. Standing: Osama Ibrahim Seddiqi, Mohammed Abdul Magied Seddiqi and Hassan Abdel Magied Seddiqi. © DWW 2017

 

© DWW 2017

 

© DWW 2017

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