Horological Meandering

patrick_y
[PuristSPro Moderator]
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Patrick_Y Reflections of 2021: Favorite Watch Event of 2021

Photo Credit: Bloomberg

In 2021 I attended the November Geneva Auctions, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Exhibition: The Sound Maker New York City, GPHG Awards Ceremony, ONLY Watch, unfortunately they cancelled Watches & Wonders 2021, and an event called Dubai Watch Week…  This year was a little light on events.  But a busy schedule considering it was a pandemic year!  But one event really stood out – Dubai Watch Week. 

Say what you will about Dubai, but this incredible mecca of a city, is on a warpath to become not only an economic powerhouse of the Middle East, but a cultural powerhouse.  The government of Dubai, which is not the capital of the United Arab Emirates (the capital is Abu Dhabi), is keen to build the city of Dubai into a cultural powerhouse filled with arts, culture, and sporting activities.  Time will only tell if they will succeed, but with the amount of time and effort, and an existing track record of solid success over the past twenty years, I’m confident they will. 

As far as success when it concerns Dubai Watch Week, it’s already a success as far as I’m concerned.  I will use DWW as the acronym from now on.  DWW is a multi-day event put on by the Seddiqi Luxury group, a group that operates 50+ jewelry and watch stores primarily in the Dubai region.  The Seddiqi family is the primary organizer (and financial underwriter) of a gigantic watch event that is entirely focused for consumers and watch lovers in an elegent setting with an incredible format.  Basically they put on a party for the watch lovers of the world at their expense.  There’s definitely something for every type of collector here.  The two portions that are accessible by any guest are the Discussion Forums and the Great Exhibition Hall.  Below you can read about each one. 

The Discussion Forums

Current topics are discussed with a panel of luxury experts and watch industry experts in the Discussion Forums.  Some of these were truly great with a great panel and a great moderator moderating the show. 

Some had super-power names – like Kevin O’Leary the famous investor on a popular entertainment TV show, where he championed NFTs and Blockchain technology and advocated its use within the luxury industry with only superficial use-cases – in a true “Emperor With No Clothes” style.  Needless to say, I wasn't impressed with O'Leary's shamless allegiance for pro-blockchain and pro-NFTs despite demonstrating very little knowledge about the subject.  Kudos to the show organizers to get these powerhouse speakers, it’s obvious a lot of time, energy, and effort was spent on trying to get these big speakers. 

Other discussions were truly “Lost In Translation” where in one case an art critic debated with designer watchmaker Alain Silberstein about “death” in totally different contexts.  Alain Silberstein was discussing the theme and imagery of death in Salvador Dali’s painting “The Persistence of Memory” at the same time the art critic was discussing the death of the artist himself and how his work lives on.  The moderator of the discussion forum unfortunately didn’t know enough about the topic and a near dark comedy ensued. 

Musician and celebrities, such as Wil.I.Am partook in a discussion with Hind Seddiqi about the future of the watch industry. 

And even YouTube star Tim Mosso of WatchBox presented a compelling approach on how one should collect watches.  This was a great discussion event! 

I spent most of my time in these discussion forums, which I feel would be fun and educational for the public at large, although most WatchProSite members who attended them regarded some of them as too simple and one insightful WatchProSite member complained some speakers weren’t able to say risky things since the discussions were recorded.  Sir, you were definitely correct!   

The Brand Exhibition Hall

The Dubai Watch Week gives consumers access to the famed watchmakers in its Brand Exhibition Hall.  The Brand Exhibition Hall featured watch brands from large brands to independents, whom all exhibited their latest wares and coolest unattainable products.  A lot of watchmakers themselves were in attendance.  For instance Ludovic Ballouard gave a big smile and thorough discussion to any passerby, you could see sparkly diamond watches from Jacob & Co., some other independents had watchmakers present where they would discuss the minute details of their mechanism, the owner of Moritz Grossman gave me a technical run down of how a special dial was made, Max Busser of MB&F was in and out and even signed an autograph for one WatchProSite member as well as taking multiple photographs, Felix Baumgartner and I discussed some future product ideas and I complained I wasn’t able to buy one of his Macallan X Urwerk flasks and I demanded he comfort me and assuage me (I’m joking, I’m not that unreasonable).  In other words, you had the opportunity to get up and close with the watchmakers. 

(JOKE) Felix Baumgartner of Urwerk has collected so many GPHG trophies over the years that he was giving them as free gifts for visitors to his booth! (JOKE)

In Conclusion

I want to finish my explanation of Dubai Watch Week by mentioning a luncheon I had with other amazing WatchProSite members.  Akrivia’s star watchmaker, Rexhep Rexhepi sat down with a group of WatchProSite members for a casual luncheon.  It was an unprecedented opportunity to be able to get to know the young watchmaker who has a simple approach to watchmaking – do the best he can do, and it doesn’t leave his hands until he’s satisfied.  Unbeknownst to us, one of the host family members seated at a faraway table noticed we were having a good time, and he graciously settled the bill for our luncheon.  Shukraan lak sayidi!  Again, access to brand executives and watchmakers that was once reserved for only super collectors and journalists is now available for the general public – you just have to make your way to Dubai (hmm, it ain't special to be press anymore)!  If you are a cinema lover and you had access to movie stars and all the Hollywood producers, you’d fly to Los Angeles to meet them right?  I flew many hours from California to get to Dubai, and I found it to be WORTH IT! 

Lastly, after speaking with the organizers of the event, the vision for this event is just incredible.  There is no profit motive for this event.  The Seddiqi family simply loves watches and the watch industry and they want to educate the world about the wonderful world of watches.  Thus, they've assembled a menagerie of watch vendors for the public to see and to educate the public in a no-sales environment.  Not a single watch was sold at the event (there isn't a single credit card swiping machine except at the restaurant), and it was just an amazing experience. 

The event takes place in Dubai every other year, so the next event will be in 2023.  However, a 2022 event organized by the Seddiqi group will take place outside of Dubai this year.  Expect to see announcements soon! 

Full disclosure: I paid for my own flight to and from Dubai (from California) and I paid my own hotel stay and there was no expectation for me to write anything (positive or otherwise) about the Dubai Watch Week event.  Thus, I can confidently state my overwhelmingly positive impression of the Dubai Watch Week event is completely from the perspective of someone flying in on their own expense for this event.