Dubai Watch Week Provides A Sanctuary For Independent Watchmakers

Dubai Watch Week Provides A Sanctuary For Independent Watchmakers

Adrienne Faurote
By Adrienne Faurote October 19, 2015
Dubai Watch Week Opening Ceremony 4
Dubai Watch Week opening ceremony.

If Switzerland is the cradle of the watchmaking industry, Dubai will be its “sanctuary” this week, according to Maximilian Büsser. The owner and creative director of MB&F, who moved permanently to the emirate in 2014, says watchmakers are “an endangered species,” that need to come together to protect the art form.

Dubai Watch Week Opening Ceremony 2
The Dubai Watch Week committee.

This week in Dubai, he will be joined by an exceptional lineup of watchmakers, brought together by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the preeminent watch retailer in the U.A.E, as well as the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

Carlo Lampretch (left)
Carlo Lampretch (left), President of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève Foundation Board.

The goal of the exhibition? To give this market an opportunity to meet face-to-face with industry leaders, and witness a formidable demonstration of talent and craftsmanship.

Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi Committee member Chief Marketing Officer, Seddiqi Holding and Melika Yazdjerdi Director, Dubai Watch Week
Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi (left) and Melika Yazdjerdi, Director of Dubai Watch Week.

Dubai Watch Week is hoping to attract a young but already crucial market, but the exercise will not be financial. Instead, Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi is hoping it will increase the public’s appreciation for their craft.

Peter Speake-Marin Master Class
Peter Speake-Marin teaches guests to disassemble a watch movement.

The Chief Marketing Officer of Seddiqi Holding says the experience is one that, until now, has been mostly reserved for private clients. But Seddiqi & Sons is keen to make the watch industry more accessible through several public displays, including the 2015 pre-selected finalists of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

Aurel Bacs, Phillips Auction House center
Aurel Bacs, President of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève jury.

“The most spectacular element,” of the exhibition, according to Aurel Bacs, President of the GPHG 2015 jury, “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.”

Philippe Dufour at Dubai Watch Week
Independent watchmaker Philippe Dufour.

Not all watchmakers are as familiar with Dubai as Büsser. Independent watchmaker Philippe Dufour will discover the emirate for the first time in his long and celebrated career.

For Caption: Calibre Image. Dubai Watch Week is open to the public from the 18th to 22nd October. For more information, please visit the official Dubai Watch Week Website.