To track time, watches have become essential in all our lives. Since they were first invented, pocket and wrist watches have captured the attention of jewelry houses and fashion designers, becoming a quintessential element in our modern life. Arabs have always had a specific affinity to luxury watches perhaps drawn to the wondrous skill needed to create such unique pieces. With the onset of Dubai Watch Week, Arab collectors will have the opportunity to dive into the world of expert watchmaking in the region’s largest event dedicated to horology.
Curated by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and under the support of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Middle East’s leading company for luxury watches and jewelry, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, joins forces with Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) to launch the first annual Dubai Watch Week. Honoring the history, innovation, achievements and expert craftsmanship in the world of watchmaking, this one-of-a-kind event in the Arab world includes the GPHG exhibition, workshops and forums, as well as public and private events for five days.
Bringing together leading watch curators, authors, historians, writers, collectors, brands and industry professionals, The Art of Horology forum hosts over 30 speakers to discuss current topics from the heart of the watch industry, such as stories about the establishment of leading timepieces brands as well as insights on the history and aspiration of the past century’s watchmakers. Held at The Empty Quarter gallery in the Dubai International Financial Center, the forum will feature sessions by industry insiders, such as Hind Siddiqi, Miroslava Duma, Elizabeth Doerr and Nazanin Lankarani.
- A third generation member of the Seddiqi family, Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi is the current Chief Marketing Officer of Seddiqi holding and a renowned example for Emirati working women, as she is the first female member from the family to join the office of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. Her main accomplishment in the family business is the establishment of the marketing and communication department, strengthening the corporation’s position in the local, regional and international markets.
- Dedicating most of her daily life to mechanical watches since 1991, Elizabeth Doerr is the co-founder and editor-in chief of QuillAndPad.com, an online magazine for luxury watchmaking. She is also a member of the prestigious Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, as well as a jury member of the GPHG’s editions from 2012 till 2015. Co-author of “Elite timepieces” published in 2008, Doerr wrote “12 Faces of Time” published in 2010 and “Bridging Art and Mechanics: The Unabridged Story of the Corum Golden Bridge” published in 2015.
- An independent journalist specializing in art, jewelry, watches and luxury, Iranian-born Nazanin Lankarani currently resides in Paris. She began her career in 1990 as a lawyer of commercial litigation in New York then moved to Paris two years later to start her career as an independent journalist. Co-author of “Delicious Jewels”, she has also been a contributor to the International New York Times, World Tempus, Artology, Vanity Fair, Louise Blouin Lifestyle publications and Rolex Magazine. In 2013 and 2014, Nazanin was a member of the GPHG’s jury.
In addition to the Art of Horology forum, Dubai Watch Week will also host a unique exhibition entitled “Rebels of Horology”. Held at the Farjam Gallery in the DIFC, this exhibition aims at defining independent watch brands, as well as exploring the innovation and creativity that bind them. In collaboration with some of the independent watch brands from the Seddiqi corporate, each participating watch manufacture will showcase its unique timepieces that crossed the boundaries of innovation and traditional watchmaking. Bovet, Cabestan, De Bethune, Greubel Forsey and Laurent Ferrier, to name a few, will be part of this exhibition.
“As the popularity of these watches increases among collectors, The Rebels of Horology exhibition is an opportunity for all watch lovers to get an inside look at the watchmakers who have broken the boundaries of tradition and we encourage visitors not to miss the chance to meet these horological masters,” said Hind Seddiqi.
To support and encourage the growth of horology in the region, Dubai Watch Week will include educational programs especially developed for the inaugural event to bring watch aficionados closer to the world of horology. Partnering with Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Programme (WOSTEP), Seddiqi holding and DWW will offer a 35,000-dollar Seddiqi Scolarship to one potential watch enthusiast in order to complete a comprehensive watchmaking course and obtain a WOSTEP degree in watchmaking.
Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons’ Swiss Watch Services, which is the only facility of its kind in the region for after-sales service, also will offer their first-ever internship program during DWW. This program can last up to three months and is dedicated to fresh graduates from international watch schools that aspire to develop their talent. On the other hand, Dubai Watch Week Mentorship aims at encouraging upcoming curators and writers from the region to develop their understanding of horology. Writers from around the world will select one protégé to be mentored for one month by industry experts.
“Promoting Emirati talent and providing them significant platforms to showcase their skills and creativity is a core commitment of Dubai Culture,” said HH Sheikha Latifa. “The scholarship programme will serve to encourage and inspire Emirati and Dubai-based talent to explore the creative potential in the world of horology. The event is a strong statement on our concerted efforts to promote public private sector collaboration and achieve the goals of the Dubai Plan 2021 to develop a city of happy, creative and empowered people.”
The Art of Horology forum will be held from October 19th until October 22nd
“Rebels of Horology” exhibition will run from October 18th till October 22nd
For registration, visit www.dubaiwatchweek.com.
Mirella Haddad
