16 Timepieces Dedicated to Seddiqi’s 75th Anniversary

Over 75 years, the family-run Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons company has grown from a single shop, to a major regional powerhouse that represents many important watch and jewelry brands in the Gulf.

Founded in 1950 by Ahmed Qasim Seddiqi, the company has been operating one of the Middle East’s largest watch service networks for the past 10 years—Swiss Watch Services provides authorized after-sales care for dozens of brands, rather than shipping these watches overseas.

Today, Seddiqi is also admired for its curation of collector-focused VIP experiences, and as the organizer of Dubai Watch Week.

Seddiqi marked its 75^th anniversary with the opening of a grand boutique in Riyadh, which spans over 4,400 sq ft, and several watchmakers have created special limited editions in homage to Seddiqi’s diamond jubilee.

Ranked among the “Top 100 Arab Family Businesses” in 2024 by Forbes Middle East, Seddiqi has become the driving force of Middle Eastern watch culture and education, and Seddiqi’s invaluable contributions have been gratefully acknowledged through these tribute timepieces.

MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual EVO and Legacy Machine Perpetual Baguette Seddiqi Special Editions

Seddiqi’s support of MB&F was instrumental in growing the brand into the icon of independent watchmaking that it is today. Another historic partnership, one between MB&F and master watchmaker Stephen McDonnell, produced this unique timepiece, which has the longest balance staff in the world, and went on to win Best Calendar Watch at the 2016 GPHG. The new Seddiqi special edition of the LM Perpetual with EVO case, which is extra slim and durable, is limited to seven examples, and the LM Perpetual with baguette diamonds is limited to five examples.

“I have been privileged over the last 27 years of their 75-year history, to have counted the Seddiqi family as very close friends,” founder Maximilian Büsser tells Haute Time. “They welcomed me when I was at my most vulnerable. They, many times, helped me when I was down, and were there to celebrate our greatest achievements together.”

Nivada Grenchen x Ahmed Seddiqi F77 75th Anniversary Edition

Nivada Grenchen pays homage to the Gulf retailer with a 40-piece limited edition in Grade 5 titanium 37mm case, housing a Soprod P024 movement.

“The idea behind this collaboration was to celebrate Seddiqi’s 75th anniversary as well as our brand-new distribution partnership between Nivada and Seddiqi,” Nivada Grenchen CEO Guillaume Laidet tells Haute Time. “The idea of combining our F77 with the dial of the Antarctic 35mm was perfect to symbolize the blend between modernity and tradition. By using a titanium case, it became the perfect marriage between the classic nature of the dial and the modernity of the case.”

Ulysse Nardin Diver [AIR] Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Edition

Limited to 30 pieces, the Ulysse Nardin Diver [AIR] Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Edition is a blue rendition of the 52g Diver [AIR] that debuted at Watches and Wonders earlier this year. This breakthrough in lightweight horology features a 44mm case made of recycled titanium, recycled fishing nets and upcycled carbon fibers, which houses the in-house caliber UN-374. Although it has been intricately skeletonized to reveal its oversized silicon balance wheel and upcycled silicon escapement, this movement packs an impressive 90 hours of power reserve and this timepiece is water-resistant to a depth of 200m—a fitting sequel to last year’s Ulysse Nardin in “Yas Blue” enamel dedicated to Seddiqi.

Arnold & Son Nebula 40 Steel Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Edition

This timepiece is a crimson reimagination of an Arnold & Son vanguard that was first released in 2016. The eye of the admirer is immediately drawn to the seven bridges of this 40mm steel timepiece. Inspired by nebulae as seen through telescopes, the architecture of the A&S5201 movement is plated with palladium, meticulously finished, and complemented by fiery red hour indices.

Gerald Charles Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin

Limited to 20 examples, the Gerald Charles Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin shines the spotlight on tiger’s eye, a rare form of fibrous quartz that is emblematic of 1970s watches. This throwback dial is complemented by Gerald Charles’ first Colormix finished case, which leverages various chemical and physical treatments to achieve a deep chocolatey hue, which is meant to resemble shadows cast over UAE’s golden dunes. This timepiece is driven by the ultra-thin caliber 2.0, which is just 3.7mm slim despite comprising 189 components. Upon close inspection, the caliber 2.0 reveal a litany of hand-finishing including colimaçon (French for “spiral”)finishing, Côtes de Genève, and perlage.

Ressence Type 9 S75

To create a truly unforgettable 20-piece limited edition, Benoît Mintiens and company collected sand from the seven Emirates and bonded it to the titanium discs of the Ressence Type 9 S75. As with previous iterations, an ETA movement drives this timepiece’s Ressence Orbital Convex System. House in a 39mm titanium case that weighs a mere 40 grams, this head-turning timepiece is paired with a camel leather strap.

Louis Erard La Petite Seconde 75th Anniversary Seddiqi Edition

Louis Erard’s beloved Petite Seconde returns with an Art Deco visage and pointers inspired by the Burj Khalifa. Sporting the maison’s fir tree LE crown, this 39mm steel timepiece is furnished with Eastern Arabic numerals and a small second counter marked with a single dot at 12. Only 75 examples have been made.

HYT S1 Seddiqi 75th Anniversary

To fete this momentous milestone for Seddiqi, HYT has created three one-of-one timepieces. Housed in 45mm titanium cases that have been ceramic coated or sandblasted, they arrive in green, blue and “sand”, descended from the legendary H1 that won the GPHG Innovation Prize in 2012. As with other HYT timepieces, two immiscible fluids are compressed through a circular capillary to indicate the time, and both liquids reset to their starting point at noon and midnight.

Chronoswiss x Ahmed Seddiqi Strike Two Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Edition

Distinguished by its horizontal ‘regulateur’ layout, the Chronoswiss Strike Two has returned with a new visage that reflects the undulating landscape of the UAE—its dial has been CVD-coated and laser-engraved to look like golden sand. Adding to the remarkability of this 12-piece limited edition is its mesmerizing small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock, which has been painstakingly guilloched by hand in Lucerne. Within its 40mm steel case, the Chronoswiss Manufacture Caliber C.6000 has been finished with ruthenium and offers 55 hours of power reserve.

Doxa SUB 250 Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Limited Edition

A quintessentially 70s timepiece that is distinguished by its 250m water resistance, the 40mm SUB 250 is Doxa’s choice of timepiece for commemorating Seddiqi’s anniversary. This special iteration’s unidirectional rotating bezel features a black no-decompression scale with Eastern Arabic numerals, which is beautifully contrasted by a rosy sunray finish meant to mimic Dubai’s horizon. Limited to 75 pieces, the Doxa SUB 250 Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Limited Edition is paired with a stylish beads-of-rice bracelet.

Hublot Classic Fusion Titanium Diamonds Seddiqi 75th Anniversary and Classic Fusion Titanium Seddiqi 75th Anniversary

This duo’s burgundy hue signals prestige and royalty in Emirati culture, and also happens to be the color of the Seddiqi logo. And it’s not just Eastern Arabic numerals that differentiate these Arab-inspired timepieces—driven by the HUB1105 self-winding movement, they tick counter-clockwise. The 42mm Hublot Classic Fusion Titanium Seddiqi 75th Anniversary features the brand’s iconic six H-screws and polished rhodium-plated hands, while the 38mm Classic Fusion Titanium Diamonds Seddiqi 75th Anniversary boasts a bezel set with 36 white diamonds, totaling approximately 1.2 carats.

Alterum x Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Edition

When Alterum founder Justin Walters set out to design an off-kilter world timer, the result was an engrossing creation that showcases different time zones using concentric circular discs. This 100-piece limited edition arrives in a blacked out 38.5mm steel case, which is gorgeously juxtaposed by a grained dial that indicates daylight hours with white, and night with black. Its steel bracelet is similar PVD coated, and can be interchanged with a rubber strap.

Breitling Avenger Automatic 42 Night Mission Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Edition

A colorful brand that has been revitalized under new leadership, Breitling’s ode to Seddiqi arrives in a dark ceramic silhouette. Limited to 75 examples, ‘7’ and ‘5’ have been highlighted to commemorate the jubilee, and a date window has replaced ‘3’. Its 42mm case features the Avenger’s iconic titanium screw-locked crown with double gaskets, which confers the watch with 300m water resistance. Within, the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 17 ticks at 4Hz with a 38-hour power reserve.

Bovet x Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Edition

The first timepiece in Bovet’s Récital collection to feature a titanium bracelet, the Récital 12 has been endowed with a blood jasper dial. Also known as “dragon stone”, this rare mineral has been thinly sliced to adorn the off-center dial. This ultra-light 40mm titanium timepiece is limited to 10 examples. When the Récital 12 debuted in 2014, it featured an inverted and openworked 13BMDR12C2 movement, which was flipped in order to showcase the balletic movement of the balance wheel and gear train.

Moritz Grossmann x Ahmed Seddiqi TEFNUT 75th Anniversary Edition

Moritz Grossmann tips its hat to Seddiqi through a flourish of intricate details. The Moritz Grossmann x Ahmed Seddiqi Tefnut 75th Anniversary Edition sports a patinated dial, which is achieved through a traditional silver plating technique that uses friction. Its strap too, made of kudu leather, is themed on the golden landscapes of the Middle East. Handmade steel pointers sweep over brown-violet Eastern Arabic numerals that surround the Moritz Grossmann marque. The Calibre 102.1 is visible from the caseback, and has been decorated in classic Moritz Grossmann style: The stepped balance cock and balance bridge have been engraved by hand, and the back plate has been engraved with the signature “M. Grossmann Glashütte” along with Seddiqi’s “75” logo. Limited to just seven pieces, the Moritz Grossmann x Ahmed Seddiqi TEFNUT 75th Anniversary Edition is just 8.5mm thin.

West End Watch Co. 75th Anniversary Heritage Set

Founded in 1886, the West End Watch Co. holds a sentimental place in Seddiqi history, as it was one of the first brands carried by the early Seddiqi company. This enduring partnership has been immortalized in two heritage sets in black and red. Housed in a stately presentation box, the self-winding wristwatch is based on the brand’s classic Ref. 8152. Its dial is adorned with a diamond-cut motif, and finished with a red or black sun-pattern. Its accompanying pocket watch is inspired by pocket watches used by the Indian Army and Railways during the Industrial Era. Time is told by pear-shaped pointers and Eastern Arabic numerals in red or black cartouches. Both the wristwatch and pocket watch have been engraved with a quote from founder Ahmed Qasim Seddiqi: “West End – Mother of all Swiss watch brands.”

Long-time partners like Pasquale Bruni, Messika and Chopard have also unveiled high jewelry pieces dedicated to Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. Watch fans can expect more surprises at Dubai Watch Week, happening this month from November 19^th to 23^rd, where Seddiqi’s diamond jubilee celebrations will continue.