Dubai Watch Week Insiders Share Tips and Tricks for the Fair

When Dubai Watch Week debuted in 2015, organizers and model executives alike said they thought it was time for the area to have a significant occasion on the world horology calendar.

And this yr, with 68 manufacturers scheduled to take part within the occasion Nov. 16-20, it appears they have been proper.

Watches aren’t bought on the honest, usually known as D.W.W., however many manufacturers have come to see it as a horological second, and about 20 new fashions are scheduled for presentation at model boutiques and particular occasions all through town, the biggest within the United Arab Emirates.

Amongst these introductions will probably be timepieces from Ulysse Nardin and Girard-Perregaux.

Patrick Pruniaux, chief government and co-founder of Sowind Group, which owns each manufacturers, wrote in an electronic mail that the honest is an efficient venue for the debuts. “We’ve been a long-term associate of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons and are very accustomed to its professionalism and the corporate’s extraordinary eye for element,” he wrote, referring to the group that based the honest, a significant watch retailer within the area. “We acknowledge the significance of Dubai Watch Week on the world stage, therefore we selected this yr’s occasion to disclose our newest fashions.”

With a sequence of panel discussions, grasp lessons and debates, the honest is often known as a superb supply of horological studying and enrichment. “Dubai Watch Week is the place to be when you’re into watches,” mentioned Mishal Hamed Kanoo, who has been a speaker on the honest a number of occasions through the years. (The honest, based as an annual occasion, moved to a biennial schedule in 2017.)

The Instances requested eight collectors, trade executives and watch journalists for his or her impressions, and ideas about the place to search out all of the motion in Dubai.

Hassan Akhras

Founding father of the watch web site Arab Watch Information, in addition to the Arab Watch Membership, which has collaborated with manufacturers on 19 particular version watches since its institution in 2015.

Why D.W.W.? “You possibly can have espresso with an idol of yours and have a dialogue,” mentioned Mr. Akhras, who mentioned he has attended the occasion since its inception. “It’s a really open sort of platform.” He mentioned it’s also a superb occasion for watch newbies: “It provides a terrific begin for somebody who doesn’t know a lot about watches and needs to study and perceive what’s taking place in our world.”

He’s trying ahead to Along with attending lectures and networking, Mr. Akhras mentioned he’ll cowl as many new watch occasions as attainable for the Arab Watch Information, which is able to have a good time its tenth anniversary subsequent yr. He’s particularly anticipating assembly collectors to ship the most recent Arab Watch Membership special-edition watch — born out of a collaboration with the Swiss model Oris and the retailer Seddiqi, and primarily based on Oris’s Large Crown Pointer Date mannequin. Already bought out, the 50-piece restricted version has a purple dial with the Oris identify in Arabic.

Prime tip Dune bashing, going to the desert in 4x4s with a information. “You wander across the desert, camp for a pleasant dinner after which come again. It’s lovely and a number of enjoyable.”

Favourite consuming Gaia, Zuma, LPM Restaurant & Bar and The Arts Membership, all within the Dubai Worldwide Finance Centre (D.I.F.C.) mall, the place D.W.W. is staged.

On his wrist will probably be A bespoke Cartier Crash with a inexperienced dial that he mentioned he picked up late final yr.

Anish Bhatt

A watch collector primarily based in Cyprus and the founding father of Watch Anish, a advertising and marketing communications firm specializing in watch manufacturers.

Why D.W.W.? “I keep in mind once I was youthful, I’d look within the window of various Rolex boutiques and would by no means be courageous sufficient to undergo that door,” he recalled. “Dubai Watch Week’s informal ambiance permits individuals to do this — to get individuals over that first hurdle of desirous to ask questions and never really feel foolish. All of us begin someplace.”

He additionally mentioned that he thinks that the area’s strict legal guidelines and extreme penalties are an enormous deterrent to luxurious robberies: “Which implies that individuals really feel very protected carrying their watches and jewellery in Dubai. Ultimately, it’s sort of an enormous purpose why we make these purchases — to have the ability to purchase, take pleasure in and put on them.”

He’s trying ahead to The honest as a main networking alternative. “I meet buddies that I’d see solely a couple of times a yr at huge exhibitions like this. You’ll work together with those who share the identical ardour for watches. Generally it takes an enormous occasion like this for individuals to journey.”

Prime tip Get an area SIM card with a number of information. “There are such a lot of enjoyable issues to see, you’ll need to doc every thing and share all of your experiences. I’ve had payments of like 2,000 kilos only for over every week at Dubai Watch Week. Spend $30 or $50 on an area SIM card and you are able to do as a lot as you need and never run out of knowledge.”

For artwork lovers The 37xDubai, a digital artwork house in D.I.F.C.’s Burj Daman tower, which was slated to open Nov. 1. “Dubai has so many venues which are all the time outdoing one another, so it takes one thing actually particular to make you go ‘wow.’ That is a type of uncommon events — it’s such a cool house.”

On his wrist will probably be “It’s an emotional determination on the day. A watch is a small extension of your character and I by no means actually plan what to put on prematurely in any respect.”

Jean-Claude Biver

The watch world veteran just lately based Biver watches along with his son, Pierre. Their new model is scheduled to make its D.W.W. debut subsequent week.

Why D.W.W.? “I consider — and I’m most likely the one one — that Dubai Watch Week is a sort of substitute for Basel,” he mentioned, referring to the Baselworld commerce present that held its final edition in 2019.

He’s trying ahead to Being on the Biver stand and assembly clients. “It may be an finish buyer that doesn’t purchase at this time, however may purchase tomorrow, or in three years or 10. The extra impressions of the top consumer you will get, the higher.”

Prime tip The desert expertise, which he known as an “expertise of life in addition to kindness and love.”

Favourite consuming Zuma, within the D.I.F.C. mall. “It’s my favourite restaurant, not solely in Dubai.”

On his wrist will probably be The Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon Biver in titanium with a sodalite dial.

Misha Daud

A co-founder and co-host of the podcast Luxurious Unedited, and proprietor of a luxurious boutique in Oman.

Why D.W.W.? Ms. Daud notes that this will probably be her first time on the honest — it had clashed together with her journey schedule prior to now. “I’m actually trying ahead to getting the texture of it — to really feel the essence and seeing how they method individuals, relatively than simply the watches,” she mentioned, referring to the honest’s organizers. “For me, it’s all the time in regards to the conversations and interactions.”

Her plans? Ms. Daud will probably be engaged on her podcast, infusing it with what she known as “the Misha method of watch shopping for.”

“I all the time inform individuals, ‘Purchase what you like’ — like artwork. I’ve to like what I see. It’s the identical for watches.”

Prime ideas Ms. Daud advised planning forward, as eating places and desert excursions get booked up. And convey a jacket or sweater. “As heat as it’s outdoors, every thing from vehicles to malls to eating places blast air-con, so it’s completely freezing inside.”

Favourite consuming On the LPM Restaurant & Bar, within the D.I.F.C. mall, the escargot with garlic butter and ache perdu with spice ice cream are her go-to orders. She additionally recommends the beachside restaurant Shimmers: “It’s a lovely setting, however be warned lunch will final until sundown with the fitting buddies, and far laughter.”

On her wrist will probably be A yellow gold Rolex Daytona Ref. 116508 with a inexperienced dial, commonly known as the John Mayer (after the singer-songwriter, an avid watch collector, voiced affection for the mannequin throughout a 2019 video interview with the watch publication Hodinkee.)

Laetitia Hirschy

Founder and chief government of the general public relations company Kaaviar PR and co-founder of Watch Femme, a Geneva-based nonprofit group that helps ladies within the watch trade.

Why D.W.W.? The Seddiqi household and particularly Hind Seddiqi, director common of the honest, have lengthy been what Ms. Hirschy known as “staunch supporters” of Watch Femme. And on the honest, she mentioned, “the panels are so nicely curated and all the time characteristic audio system you’re not going to search out at another occasion.”

She’s trying ahead to The Watch Femme Watch Pace Courting occasion, scheduled for Nov. 18, through which individuals will kind small teams and every group member then can attempt on about 10 watches. “The aim is to expertise completely different watches in a enjoyable method. It’s tremendous interactive.”

Additionally, Watch Femme is holding its first dwell Tick Speak, a sequence that options ladies working within the trade and beforehand had solely been held on Zoom. Ms. Seddiqi is to talk on the occasion.

Prime tip Regardless of being within the metropolis, she mentioned, Dubai has superb seashores. “When you actually need to deal with your self, spend the day on the Bulgari Resort on an island in Jumeirah Bay.”

Favourite consuming Al Mallah, on the 2nd of December Road a couple of 10 minute drive from the D.I.F.C., for genuine Lebanese meals. “It began as a juice stand on the road 40 years in the past they usually have superb watermelon juice and shawarmas.”

On her wrist will probably be A Frederique Fixed Highlife in metal with a pink dial. “It’s excellent to match my black and pink Missoni costume.”

Mishal Hamed Kanoo

Chairman of The Kanoo Group, a enterprise conglomerate primarily based within the United Arab Emirates, with pursuits that embody transport, journey, power and development.

Why D.W.W.? For Mr. Kanoo, who will probably be talking on a panel analyzing how unbiased manufacturers can navigate company buyouts, seeing the watches on the wrist is vital. “Making an attempt on the watches and the contact and really feel is the satisfying half.”

He’s trying ahead to Discovering out what the unbiased manufacturers like MB&F and Czapek & Cie. (he’s an investor) have in retailer. “They’ll give you new, attention-grabbing watches you most likely wouldn’t consider.”

Prime tip “You want two issues: snug sneakers and a fats pockets.” Then, he added, “Your fats pockets may turn into thinner by the point you return — and never essentially for watches.”

For artwork lovers The artwork district of Al Quoz, in western Dubai, for up to date artwork, particularly Alserkal Avenue, which has many small galleries.

On his wrist will probably be “I nonetheless haven’t determined. It is going to rely how I’m feeling on the day.”

Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi

Chief business officer at Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, which represents greater than 80 watch and jewellery manufacturers in additional than 50 boutiques within the U.A.E.

Why D.W.W.? Mr. Seddiqi, who has been concerned with the honest since its inception, mentioned D.W.W.’s deal with schooling and craftsmanship is what makes the occasion stand aside. “It opens a brand new gateway for the top client to grasp the steps for making a timepiece,” he mentioned, including that the occasion has the sort of “informal dialog that has been lacking at different exhibitions or gala’s.”

“Individuals mingle with each other. You’ll instantly see the C.E.O. of Audemars Piguet and the C.E.O. of Rolex sitting and discussing one thing. Numerous concepts come up,” he added, citing for example the Legacy Machine FlyingT Allegra, a 2021 collaboration between MB&F and Bulgari that germinated in the course of the 2017 D.W.W.

He’s trying ahead to Seeing shoppers, particularly if he “can change the thoughts of a shopper that perhaps hates a sure model,” he mentioned. “You hearken to her or him after which you find yourself sitting with the C.E.O., or the advertising and marketing or inventive director, of that model. You open a completely new web page for the shopper — to grasp the model’s course, why its actions are completed a sure away — and the shopper finally ends up altering his or her perspective.”

Prime tip The Gold Souk within the Deira neighborhood of Dubai. “It’s a tremendous expertise and also you by no means know what you may discover.”

Favourite place XVA Gallery within the Al Fahidi district of Dubai’s previous city. The constructing was as soon as the house of Mr. Seddiqi’s paternal grandfather, and the household enterprise began there greater than 70 years in the past. His father and different family members additionally grew up there. “It’s a very sentimental place for us.”

On his wrist will probably be “Keep tuned, it’s a shock throughout all 5 days of the occasion.”

Rolf Studer

Co-chief executive of Oris, which is to take part in D.W.W. for the second consecutive time.

Why D.W.W.? Mr. Studer likened D.W.W. to a household gathering, calling it “one of many nicest” occasions within the trade. “It’s nice meals, nice individuals, nice watches. What else may you ask for?”

He’s trying ahead to Seeing collectors get their Arab Watch Membership collaboration watch (“We wished to do one thing within the area and Hassan was the proper particular person to do a watch collaboration with. We began speaking pre-Watches and Wonders 2023 and met in Geneva.”) and presenting Oris’s personal fashions, scheduled to be unveiled on Nov. 16. Mr. Studer mentioned he didn’t need to give an excessive amount of away, however mentioned that one is “very conceptual, technical and exquisite — the identical as Dubai Watch Week.”

Prime tip He identify checked the Dubai Body, the museum and observatory that has turn into an area landmark, and the previous gold and spice souks as must-visits. He additionally inspired a little bit of retail remedy, even when only for the expertise: “Procuring is an artwork kind in itself in Dubai.”

Favourite consuming Alongside Gaia and Cipriani (“the previous traditional the place everybody hangs out”), Mr. Studer mentioned he desires to attempt the Italian restaurant Stylish Nonna, additionally within the D.I.F.C. mall. However, actually, wherever outdoor will swimsuit, he mentioned: “It’s November and the climate is improbable. We get 5 bonus days of summer season.”

On his wrist will probably be The Oris ProPilot X Kermit Version, ”which has a inexperienced dial, naturally, however its most entertaining characteristic seems on the primary of each month, or ‘Kermit Day’, when Kermit’s cheery face pops into the date window.”