Exclusive: Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons And Bovet Release The 19Thirty Dimier U.A.E. Limited Edition

This is a story about tradition and pushing the parameters of watch collecting.

Ahmed Qasim Seddiqi started Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons’ shop in the souk of Bur Dubai 70 years ago. Driven by the founder’s desire to share his love of fine Swiss watches with his countrymen, the shop grew into the most trusted network of watch and jewelry boutiques in the Middle East.
 

Pascal Raffy started as a collector whose passion for timepieces led to the revival of historic Swiss brand BOVET in 2001. The brand is now best known for both its artisanal excellence and delightfully complex in-house movements.

Both houses have always exemplified deep respect for the traditions of watchmaking as well as exploring new territories. And now they are coming together to celebrate their deep love for horology with a novel new wristwatch – the 50-piece, limited edition 19Thirty Dimier U.A.E.

First introduced in 2015, the 19Thirty Dimier featured a round silhouette inspired by the vintage chronometers produced by Bovet before transitioning from pocket watches to wristwatches. Incidentally, Mr. Raffy collected pocket watches before he took the reins at Bovet.

While traditional in construction, the collection is notable for its use of more modern materials. Bovet generally works with precious metals for their timepieces, and the 19Thirty Dimier U.A.E. pushes the aesthetic envelope even further.
 

The distinctive yellow and black look of this model is the result of several firsts for Bovet. Including Bovet’s first ever black DLC coated case, a cabochon-cut yellow sapphire cabochon featured on the crown, and most notably, the use of only the brand’s Fleur de Lotus logo printed in white on the dial instead of the company name.

With the inclusion of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons' tagline, "Curators of Time Since 1950," inscribed at 12 o'clock, it is also the only time that a tagline from an outside entity has appeared on a Bovet timepiece.
 

“The U.A.E. Limited Edition has been thought and handcrafted together with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons and notably Mr. Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi,” said Raffy in a press release. “The House of Bovet is very proud and honoured to be part of such a celebration.”

The rest of the dial is equally distinctive with its all-black hour, minutes, seconds, and power reserve hands, blackened Côtes de Genève finishing, and yellow luminova along with Arabic and Hindi numerals – an homage to Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons’ Middle Eastern origins. In fact, this model has been nicknamed ‘MAMS or Make All Moments Special,’ a tribute to Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons’ Chief Commercial Officer Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi, who shares the same initials.
 

Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons’ dedication to fine watchmaking is also based on loyalty to both customers and brands. Despite its traditional take, the retailer can also be delightfully disruptive to the status quo through its strong support of independent maisons like Bovet.

For example, earlier 70th anniversary editions included collaborations with MB&F and H. Moser & Cie. Plus, as sponsors of Dubai Watch Week, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons has proven its commitment to educating industry insiders and consumers alike about the importance of independent brands.
 

“This timepiece marks an important milestone for Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons and the entire Seddiqi family,” said Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi about the partnership. “It has been an incredibly rewarding experience to work closely with Mr. Raffy and the team at The House of Bovet to bring our vision to life and ensured we created something that was special. The watch has been over nine months in the making, and I would like to thank Mr. Raffy for being open to the various design specifications we had in mind, a true testament to the long-standing partnership between the House of Bovet and Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons.”

This limited-edition timepiece has all the hallmarks of the classic the 19Thirty Dimier. The 42 mm stainless steel case houses the Swiss manufacture’s in-house caliber 15BM04 hand-wound haute horlogerie movement with a whopping 7-day power reserve and 30m of water resistance. This 35-jewel mechanism beats at a frequency of 21,600 v/h.
 

To highlight the Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons passion for Swiss watches and its expertise in the Middle East market, there are also many elements added by Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi. The United Arab Emirates celebrates its 50th National Day in 2021, and the 19Thirty Dimier U.A.E limited edition is the first in a long line of exclusives that are being created to celebrate that milestone.

The 19Thirty Dimier U.A.E. limited edition is presented in a custom box from The House of Bovet, and the timepiece is accompanied by a unique Misbaha (prayer beads) featuring black onyx and yellow jade beads. This accessory is commonly associated with the region. It also arrives with a full skin black matte alligator strap with yellow stitches and an additional yellow and black rubber strap, both with a stainless steel black DLC coated ardillon buckle.
 

19Thirty Dimier U.A.E. limited edition is a limited edition of 50 timepieces. It’s priced at Aed 105,000 (approx. $28,600 USD) and exclusively available at Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons.

For more information, visit Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons’ website.