ICYMI: Day 2 DWW2021 Highlights

The 9:00 a.m. walk to The Gate at the Dubai International Finance Center is a lonely one. It is quiet, no matter what day of the week it is, but it is that down time which can clear a person’s head, allowing them to take deep breaths and find an inner peace before the sights and sounds of another hectic, exciting, and watch-filled day begins. 

When You Love Your Patek

Day two began with another riveting (and packed!) panel in the Horology Forum titled, “I Love My Patek, What Does It Do?” Moderated by world-renowned watch historian, journalist, and author, Nicholas Foulkes (who was dressed in a colorful lavender and violet-hued ensemble for the occasion). The panel comprised watch collector, gemmologist, and vintage dealer Claude Sfeir, watch collector and expert Ali Nael, and CCO of Seddiqi Holding, Mohammed Seddiqi. Mr. Foulkes’ ability to combine his knowledge along with a dry wit and quick timing allowed for downright hilarious moments as each guest weighed in on a topic close to all their hearts. The idea behind the panel was to discuss how many of today’s watch enthusiasts (and even non-watch enthusiasts) are quick to want to purchase watches no longer because they are in love with the watch and feel it fits their personality, but because the watch they seek is the one everyone wants. The advice given largely by the panel to a young woman in the front row of the audience who asked what her first watch – which she was about to purchase – should be? To buy what fit her personality and to buy it because she loved it, not because other people love it. 

Hublot’s Nod to the UAE

In celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the UAE which declared its independence on December 2, 1971, Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe was on hand at their pop-up booth along with Mohammed Seddiqi who was fresh off the previous panel to launch a limited edition Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Concrete Sand watch in collaboration with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons.

Selling Out? Nah. 

Panel numero dos at Horology forum was filled with differing opinions and individual stories of survival, love, and collaborations. Titled, “Authentic Poor Rich Sellout,” this panel was ripe with challenges of the friendly kind but was not without its fair share of gasp-inducing moments as well as one Maximilian Büsser sharing the story of how he wouldn’t return Alain Silberstein’s email after Alain (by the request of Max) sent a drawling of a potential collaboration watch, and how Max truly couldn’t stand the design. (Spoiler: it all worked out in the end, and they are living happily ever after.) All panels are available to watch on the Dubai Watch Week YouTube channel or our website.  

Etc.

New releases from H. Moser & Cie, Girard Perregaux, and Oris. WatchBox’s pop-up being the hot place to be for a coffee and a pre-owned. And, well, chicken burger at SALT!