PHOTO
- A myriad of culinary, cultural, and educational experiences form part of the largest edition to date.
- Partners for this event include Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai Culture, Christie's, World of Dreams, Du, Aston Martin, Masafi, and the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH).
Dubai, UAE: Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of the Dubai Council, Dubai Watch Week presents the 6th and largest edition, set to welcome UAE residents and visitors from the watch aficionado community and beyond.
Scheduled from 16th to 20th November 2023 at The Gate, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai Watch Week will serve as the premiere intersection for congruent industries such as horology, design, automotive, and art. Over 60 of the world’s most iconic watch brands will showcase their latest timepieces, with many expected to unveil limited editions exclusively launched at the event.
Leading brands such as Rolex, Audemars Piguet, TUDOR, Hublot, Chopard, Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux, Van Cleef & Arpels, CHANEL, and Bulgari will have stand-alone spaces on-site. The event will also house The Collectors Lounge space, an ideal meeting ground for international and regional watch enthusiasts to unite under a single roof and attend curated sessions.
This year’s programme will feature renowned thought leaders from the horology industry including unique masterclasses by Nour Al Hassan, the creator of Kintsugi art workshops, and Max Busser who will share his creative process behind designing and building a brand.
Horology Forum
Horology Forum, an original concept created by Dubai Watch Week, will look at the intersection of horology with luxury automotive, artisanship and education to offer a platform for free-flowing discussions between master craftsmen, captains of industries, visionaries, and seasoned collectors. This year, Horology Forum will feature six panels, gathering renowned leaders from their respective fields to dissect and dialogue; and three debates. Dubai Watch Week is also proud to introduce the first-ever Arabic panel, adding a new dimension to the platform and encouraging the wider audience to attend and experience what Dubai Watch Week has to offer.
The upcoming edition features a distinguished roster of globally renowned speakers and moderators, including François-Henry Bennahmias, CEO of Audemars Piguet; Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi, Chief Commercial Officer of Seddiqi Holding, Daniela Dufour, Watchmaker; Jean Arnault, Watch Director at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton; Nicholas Foulkes, Author & Historian; George Bamford, Founder of Bamford Watch Department; Austen Chu, Founder & CEO of Wristcheck; Tim Mosso, Watch Specialist & Media Director at WatchBox and Wei Koh, Founder of Grail Watch and Revolution Watch.
This year’s panels will also be livestreamed via the Dubai Watch Week YouTube Channel.
Masterclasses
The 11 masterclasses taking place at the event include hands-on workshops, such as one led by expert artisans from Bovet - ‘Miss Audrey’s Sweet Art Dial-Making Masterclass’, showcasing dials crafted from pure sugar; the Sheikhen workshop, where vintage Norwegian silver spoons are transformed into exquisite wearable art, and a unique Emirati Safeefah Leather Bracelet making workshop, held by Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council.
Creative Hub
The Creative Hub will feature thought-provoking dialogues and conversations such as the Super League of Sustainability, exploring circularity in the luxury Swiss watch industry led by ID Géneve and Winding Forward, an intimate conversation with Mr. Jean Claude Biver will detail his transformative influence on the watch industry.
Christie’s at Dubai Watch Week
Christie’s will return to this years’ edition, with a series of engaging, experiential and educational talks and panel discussions with leading speakers at their new Pavilion within the event venue. Complimentary watch valuations will be available by appointment undertaken by Christie’s Middle East horology specialists. For young visitors aged 7-14, the Christie’s auction for kids will provide the opportunity to participate in a friendly and informative auction experience.
Activations & Competitions on-site
Exhibits in the central area of the Brands Exhibition will include Amadeo’s Evolution of Cameo and M.A.D Gallery. Amadeo, a celebrated artisan, will present a unique collection of Dubai Watch Week cameo pins designed for watch leather straps, blending tradition with modernity. An ode to the intricate dance of horology, the M.A.D Gallery will display global artists’ creations, emphasising the beauty inherent in detailed craftsmanship.
Additionally, as part of a unique exhibition on-site by Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), guests are welcome to scan the unique pieces via the DWW app and answer five questions correctly, standing a chance to win luxury watches and experiences daily.
Culinary Delights
Extending beyond the world of Horology, guests are invited to explore the culinary concepts on-site. La Niña will provide a modern Iberian Latino menu that presents itself with an exquisite combination of bold flavors. Home Bakery and KITCH-IN are set to launch an exclusive menu specially crafted for Dubai Watch Week, and TWST is set to bring back crowd favorites and new additions to their menu.
To register and book sessions for the 6th edition of Dubai Watch Week, please visit the website and stay tuned for updates via the Instagram page @dubaiwatchweek.
The Dubai Watch Week App is available to download on Android & iOS
Full List of Participating Brands:
Rolex, Audemars Piguet, TUDOR, Hublot, Chopard, Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux, Van Cleef & Arpels, CHANEL, Bulgari.
Akrivia, Armin Strom, Arnold & Son, ArtyA, Bell & Ross, Biver, Bovet, Breitling, Bremont, Christophe Claret, Chronoswiss, Czapek, De Bethune, Dior, DOXA, F.P. Journe, Ferdinand Berthoud, Frederique Constant, GENUS, Grand Seiko, Greubel Forsey, H. Moser & Cie., HYT, ID Genève, Jacob & Co., Konstantin Chaykin, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, Laurent Ferrier, Louis Erard, Ludovic Ballouard, MB&F, MING, Moritz Grossmann, Norqain, Oris, Rebellion Timepieces, Remy Cools, RESERVOIR, Ressence, Schwarz Etienne, Speake-Marin, TAG Heuer, Trilobe Watches, URWERK, Vanguart, and Vyntage.
About Dubai Watch Week
Founded in 2015 by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Dubai Watch Week celebrates the creative confluence and undercurrents of the luxury watch industry highlighting the people, community, tradition, and innovation in the market. Creating satellite events and its biennial hero event in Dubai, Dubai Watch Week is a movement that supports initiatives with similar values bridges communities and creates unique opportunities for networking and creative exchange.
MEDIA CONTACT
Zoe Serras/ Layan Al Jammal
Houbara Communications
E-mail: dww@houbaracomms.com
About Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)
With the ultimate vision of making Dubai the world’s leading commercial centre, investment hub and tourism destination, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is mandated to support the Government in positioning the emirate as a major hub for global economy and tourism, and in boosting the city’s economic and tourism competitiveness indicators, in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy and consolidate its position among the top three global cities over the next decade.
Under this remit, DET is driving efforts to further enhance Dubai’s diversified, innovative service-based economy to attract top global talent, deliver a world-class business environment and accelerate productivity growth. Additionally, DET is supporting Dubai’s vision to become the world’s best city to live and work in by promoting its diverse destination proposition, unique lifestyle and outstanding quality of life, overall.
DET is the principal authority for planning, supervising, developing and marketing Dubai’s business and tourism sectors. It is also responsible for licensing and classifying all types of businesses, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. The DET portfolio includes Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), Dubai Business Licence Corporation (DBLC), Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade (DCCPFT), Dubai SME, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) and Dubai College of Tourism (DCT).
About Dubai Culture & Arts Authority
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is committed to enriching Dubai’s cultural scene based on the UAE’s heritage, and is building bridges of constructive dialogue between various cultures to enhance Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.
Dubai Culture is keen on reviving and preserving the emirate's historical heritage and developing the regulatory frameworks for the cultural and creative sector in line with its strategic roadmap 2020 – 2026.
The Authority also seeks to empower the enablers that seek to support talent and stimulate active participation from society members by investing in the various cultural and heritage assets under its remit, including the management of six heritage sites, five museums, Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children and eight Dubai Public Library branches, all of which help contribute to creating an economic system that stimulates the cultural and creative industries.
For more information, please visit the Authority's website www.dubaiculture.gov.ae
About Christie’s
- Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business. Renowned and trusted for its expert live and online auctions, as well as its bespoke private sales, Christie’s offers a full portfolio of global services to its clients, including art appraisal, art financing, international real estate and education. Christie’s has a physical presence in 46 countries, throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, with flagship international sales hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva. In 2023, Christie’s celebrates its 10th anniversary as the first international auction house authorized to hold sales in mainland China (Shanghai).
- Christie’s auctions span more than 80 art and luxury categories, at price points ranging from $200 to over $100 million. Christie’s has sold 8 of the 10 most important single-owner collections in history, including the Paul G. Allen Collection—the most valuable collection ever offered at auction (November 2022). In recent years, Christie’s also achieved the world record price for an artwork at auction (Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, 2017), for a 20th century artwork (Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, 2022) and for a work by a living artist (Jeff Koons’ Rabbit, 2019). Christie’s Private Sales offers a seamless service for buying and selling art, jewellery and watches outside of the auction calendar, working exclusively with Christie’s specialists at a client’s individual pace.
- Following the groundbreaking 2021 sale of the first digital art NFT ever offered by a global auction house (Beeple’s Everydays), Christie’s recently launched the first fully on-chain auction platform dedicated to exceptional NFT art. As an industry leader in digital innovation, Christie’s also continues to pioneer new technologies that are redefining the business of art, including the use of hologram technology to tour life-size 3D objects around the world, and the creation of viewing and bidding experiences that integrate augmented reality, global livestreaming, buy-now channels, and hybrid sales formats.
- Christie’s is dedicated to advancing responsible culture throughout its business and communities worldwide, including achieving sustainability by reducing our carbon emissions by 50% and pledging to be net zero by 2030, and actively using its platform in the art world to amplify under-represented voices and support positive change.
- Browse, bid, discover, and join us for the best of art and luxury at: www.christies.com or by downloading Christie’s apps.
* Please note when quoting estimates above that other fees will apply in addition to the hammer price - see Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of the sale catalogue.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium.
About World of Dreams
At World of Dreams, we are a luxury travel concierge that specializes in crafting bespoke travel experiences for our discerning clients. Our team of experienced professionals go above and beyond to create unique and unforgettable itineraries that cater to our clients' specific interests and preferences. We offer a range of services that include luxury accommodations, exceptional activities and excursions, and personalized service that ensures a stress-free journey. We pride ourselves on our commitment to delivering unparalleled expertise, attention to detail, and exceptional service that sets us apart from traditional travel agencies. At World of Dreams, we are dedicated to creating unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.
About Aston Martin
Aston Martin’s vision is to be the world’s most desirable, ultra-luxury British brand, creating the most exquisitely addictive performance cars.
Founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, Aston Martin is acknowledged as an iconic global brand synonymous with style, luxury, performance, and exclusivity. Aston Martin fuses the latest technology, time honoured craftsmanship and beautiful styling to produce a range of critically acclaimed luxury models including the Vantage, DB12, DBS, DBX and its first hypercar, the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Aligned with its Racing. Green. sustainability strategy, Aston Martin is also developing alternatives to the internal combustion engine, with an ambition to create the world’s most thrilling and highly desirable electric performance cars, the first of which is targeted for launch in 2025.
Based in Gaydon, England, Aston Martin Lagonda designs, creates, and exports cars which are sold in 56 countries around the world. Its sports cars are manufactured in Gaydon with its luxury DBX SUV range proudly manufactured in St Athan, Wales. The company is on track to deliver net-zero manufacturing facilities by 2030.
Lagonda was founded in 1899 and Aston Martin in 1913. The two brands came together in 1947 when both were purchased by the late Sir David Brown, and the company is now listed on the London Stock Exchange as Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc.
2020 saw Lawrence Stroll become the company’s Executive Chairman, alongside significant new investment, a move that led to Aston Martin’s return to the pinnacle of motorsport with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team and commenced new era for the iconic British marque.
About Masafi
Masafi was established in 1977 and has retained its market leadership for over three decades by providing world-class products which are renowned for their pure natural freshness.
Being a leading brand that delivers to consumer needs, Masafi’s wide product portfolio includes premium drinking water, juice, tissues, and hygiene kits. Since its inception, Masafi has always cared for the environment and is ready to go the extra mile towards a better tomorrow for the people and society. Masafi is a source of wellness – from the purest drinking water to the freshest juices, hygiene kits and lots more! Masafi is here to improve consumers’ everyday life. For more information about Masafi and its products, go to www.masafi.com