Magic Numbers

2021. Another year draws to a close, and as is our habit when the calendar turns over a new page, it is time for a quick pause, an alarmed glance at the scales, and a moment for self-reflection.

It has been a year filled with challenges for many of us, and at Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, we are proud to have come together as an organisation to support each other, while continuing to do what we do best – curating moments in time and supporting our clients in selecting timepieces that honour, celebrate, reward and delight.

One of the many things this year has shown us is that it’s all too easy to get caught up in productivity, work and daily routine. But, as much as even the most complex wristwatch occasionally needs to be stopped, gently tended to and looked after to ensure it ticks, tocks and functions for years to come, so our own bodies and souls need moments of rest, repose and relaxation.

Time is so precious, and this year has been a year to celebrate special moments in amidst the challenges. 2021 was the year of the UAE’s Golden Jubilee. Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons created a collection of limited-edition watches to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country we are proud to call home, one whose traditions have nourished and inspired us, and whose culture and values align so very closely with our own.

Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons recently celebrated a very significant anniversary of its own – creating limited editions in honour of 70 years since the founding of the company in Dubai – and so it seemed like a perfectly fitting expression of admiration and affection to do the same to pay tribute to the UAE.

A particularly personal highlight was the launch of Vyntage, a new brand created by Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi. Vyntage draws inspiration from the accumulated wisdom of the past. Its first collaboration with watchmakers Undone sees a handsome 40mm chronograph with a beautiful bronze-coloured dial offered to 100 collectors.

Some of the timepieces feature the number ‘50’ on the dial, such as the Moritz-Grossman ‘The Fifty’ that places the numerals centre stage in a bold graphical design that fills the entire face of the dial. Meanwhile, De Bethune’s "UAE HAWK" and Anonimo "Epurato UAE 50" both replace the 10 o’ clock index with the number 50. Bovet’s Bovet 19Thirty Fleurier likewise pays a numeric tribute to the UAE, drawing on the Roman numeral L instead, on its bronzed sunray dial. Bronze is a colour that several of the limited-edition timepieces draw on as an inspirational colour, perhaps associating the country’s stunning sand dunes and desert landscape palette with this noble, vintage-inspired metal. WestEnd’s ‘The Formation’ features a sandy-bronze dial as does the Ressence Type 1 DX, and the aforementioned Vyntage. MB&F’s Year of the 50th likewise draws on this metallic hue, its dial a magnificent ode to tradition meeting the future – which we think perfectly encapsulates the spirit of UAE.

While other elements weave through the collection –the colour green is one (Furlan Marri, Laurent Ferrier, Garrick S4 and De Bethune) and the UAE flag colours are also seen, what really unites these diverse and wonderful watches is the spirit of watchmaking tradition – the artisans and workers who create timepieces by hand – with the audacious and visionary horologers of the future. The UAE is a country whose traditions are sacrosanct and yet it is also one of the most future-facing young countries in the world. Our customers are discerning watch collectors who appreciate heritage and history, but never fail to be delighted and excited by the new, the unexpected and the audacious. It’s a mindset that defines the men and women shaping the future, and we’re just as excited to be a part of it. Our timepieces – limited editions, rare one-offs and sought-after grail pieces, are drawn from a world where obsession with time creates objects of excellence. These objects in turn become milestones and measure time. We hope that the next 365 days will offer you ample opportunity to appreciate them, and for them to puncutate a year filled with precious memories, moments of joy, achievement and value.