11/22/2021

Dubai Watch Week Essentials: Where, When, And How To Follow The Event

Only two days remain before the start of the 2021 edition of Dubai Watch Week, and Watchonista will be there to unveil several special launches throughout the week. Here is what you need to know so that you don’t miss out.

By Watchonista

This week, Team Watchonista is heading to Dubai Watch Week, a globally attended event that supports and cultivates watchmaking and its stakeholders. And this year, Dubai Watch Week (DWW), organized by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, promises to become the biggest edition since its founding in 2015.

The Seddiqi family and the fantastic Dubai Watch Week team © Dubai Watch Week

The whole event will be taking place in The Gate at the Dubai International Financial Centre from November 24th until November 28th.

Here is what you can expect from this exciting week through the lens of Watchonista.

Horology Forum

The Horology Forum, a DWW original concept that tackles engaging topics by bringing people from a multitude of industries together who can provide distinctive points of view on the watch industry and beyond, will have its seventh edition this year. And after revealing an impressive roster of speakers, panel topics include:

• “Epicurious Collectivist #IYKYK”: A panel examining the forces behind the democratization of art and luxury knowledge and weighing pros and cons of this growing trend.

• “I love my Patek, What does it do”: A session investigating stigmas and knowledge when it comes to collector credibility, especially when a collector’s money speaks louder than their knowledge.

• “Cryp Tic-Tac-Toe, Where’d Human Error Go?”: A panel deciphering luxury’s ascension to crypto and how it transcends limits.

Horology Forum During Dubai Watch Week 2019

In addition to these and other topics, the grand finale of the Horology Forum will be a “Carte Blanche” session. During this panel, audience members’ anonymously submitted questions (using white cards made available at all of the Horology Forum panels) will be answered by the “Carte Blanche” panelists for an even more dynamic and immersive experience.

For the complete list of topics, click HERE.

Collector’s Lounge

Additionally, this year, DWW will be presenting a totally new space for watch lovers to discuss the latest watch releases and horology news with peers while rubbing elbows with industry leaders. It’s called The Collector’s Lounge.

The lounge will welcome varying degrees of collectors of all kinds, chaperoned under the watchful eye of Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi. For instance, the Collector’s Lounge will be hosted by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the Co-President of Chopard, to talk about the 25th anniversary of the manufacture.

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele opening the doors to Chopard Manufacture's first workshop © Chopard

The New Chopard L.U.C Flying T Twin © Olivier Currat

Creative Hub

The beloved Creative Hub returns with a rich program promoting dialogues and conversations that are designed to foster creativity, champion innovation and celebrate the industry.

Breitling, Girard-Perregaux, Oris, Urwerk, and more will open the veil of creativity in front of the large audience of DWW 2021.

The New Breitling Super AVI Collection © Breitling

Masterclass

One of the most attended and popular activities at Dubai Watch Week is the Masterclass. These are places where expert watchmakers and artisans teach attendees how to create their very first mechanical watch movement, paint on a miniature dial, or learn the traditional art of enameling.

If you want to secure your place in a masterclass early, click HERE.

Masterclass With Jean-Claude Biver During Dubai Watch Week 2019

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition

Exhibition Hall

The centerpiece of the Dubai Watch Week is, of course, the Exhibition Hall. This year, the DWW management secured the participation of 45 watch brands - the highest number of participating exhibitors to date. And word on the street is that there will be quite a few launches unveiled during Dubai Watch Week.

Exhibition Hall – Dubai Watch Week 2019

The New Greubel Forsey Balancier S² © Greubel Forsey

That is why, every day from November 24 - 28, Watchonista will be unveiling special Dubai Watch Week watch editions from the leading watch brands through our exclusive lens. So stay tuned to our DWW 2021 dedicated page or follow us on Instagram!