Dubai Watch Week is set to take place next week, which means the watch world is turning its attention to the Middle East. And while in the west our most famous retailers are the likes of Bucherer and Watches of Switzerland, in the Middle East you can’t talk watche collecting without mentioning Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. The retail giant is celebrating their 75th anniversary this year, a fact that many watch brands are celebrating with collaborative special editions or dedicated Dubai Watch Week launches. Let’s take a look at a selection – though quick reminder that these are celebratory limited editions and as such may be out of stock already or are exclusive to Seddiqi boutiques. Additionally, Seddiqi have been celebrating all year and we will be focussing on launches that were announced in the run up to Dubai Watch Week.
HYT S1 Seddiqi Titanium Trilogy
HYT has released a trio of unique pieces dedicated to the retailer. Each is a rendition of their signature hydromechanical watchmaking with a fluid hour indicator. The three versions are the Titanium Blue, Titanium Green and Titanium Sand, unsurprisingly featuring blue, green and sand coloured ceramic elements respectively. One of the special features that will be common across each of the watches in this article is the use of eastern Arabic numerals for the time display.
Ulysse Nardin Diver Air Seddiqi 75th Anniversary
While we typically associate Ulysse Nardin with the Freak, the Diver Air is actually one of their most boundary pushing watches thanks to its ultra-lightweight design and huge proportion of recycled material earning the title of being the world’s lightest mechanical dive watch at just 52g. For this Seddiqi special edition they’ve given it a makeover with vibrant blue accents across the minute scale, strap, carbon bezel and seconds hand. It’s powered by the skeletonised calibre UN-374 with 90-hour power reserve.
Gerald Charles Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin ‘Tiger’s Eye’
A combination of Seddiqi’s 75th anniversary and Gerald Charles’ 25th anniversary, the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin ‘Tiger’s Eye’ is a 20-piece limited edition. It features GC’s first ever ‘colourmix’ case, a style of coating that is comprised of a fusion of chemical and physical treatments creating a distinctive bronze colouration for the case that matches the dark browns of the tiger’s eye dial. The overall effect of the piece conjures images of swirling desert sands, emphasised by the clean display without indexes.
Doxa SUB 250 Ahmed Seddiqi
The SUB 250 Ahmed Seddiqi from Doxa pays tribute to the retailer in both direct and indirect ways. On the caseback the retailer’s motto of ‘Where Legacy Meets Luxury’ is emblazoned highlighting the shared ideals of both brands. The cherry red dial and gold accents are then a tribute to the region’s blazing skyline as the sun beats down from on high. It creates a bold aesthetic though one that I’d half associate with Chinese New Year rather than the Middle East.
MB&F LM Perpetual Seddiqi Editions
MB&F launched a duo of special editions for the Seddiqi 75th anniversary. They are the LM Perpetual EVO 75th Anniversary Seddiqi and LM Perpetual Baguette Diamonds 75th Anniversary Seddiqi, limited to just seven and five pieces each. Both feature the same vibrant blue tone that we’ve seen on other special editions in this article such as the HYT Titanium Blue and Ulysse Nardin Diver Air. Interestingly they’ve maintained the western Arabic numerals rather than eastern.
Louis Erard La Petite Seconde x 75th Anniversary Seddiqi
The La Petite Seconde x 75th Anniversary Seddiqi features a 39mm x 12.82mm case in stainless steel with a round design and smooth bezel. However, while the case is very nice, the focal point of the watch is unmistakably the dial. It features a salmon-like copper tone with a concentric circle motif and a peripheral hour track with eastern Arabic numerals, paying tribute to Arabic culture and tradition. Then at 6 o’clock you can find the titular small seconds subdial.
ID Genève MorphoDune 75th
ID Genève have decided to push the boundaries when it comes to their Seddiqi special edition by creating the dial of the MorphoDune 75th using nanoprinting technology that creates an incredibly intricate display that appears to shift colour with every glance. The pattern is captivating with its flowing Arabian influence and matching hour markers. As this is ID Genève the case is made from 100% reprocessed metal, making it highly sustainable. Inside is the refurbished ETA 2892 movement.
Artya AquaSaphir Dubai Watch Week Editions
These Artya AquaSaphir watches are technically Dubai Watch Week special editions rather than in commemoration of Seddiqi’s 75th anniversary but in the press release they call out how the watches also celebrate the successful collaborations between the brand and retailer so I think they are valid inclusions. They feature the Emirati flag on their aventurine dials and are available as a 10 piece green sapphire case limited edition or an innovative quadricolour unique piece where the sapphire bezel recreates the flag as well. They are powered by La Joux-Perret movements.
You can find all of the 75th anniversary limited edition at Seddiqi.
