HUBLOT AND AHMED SEDDIQI & SONS UNVEIL TWO EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL EDITION TIMEPIECES IN COLLABORATION WITH CALLIGRAPHY ARTIST WISSAM SHAWKAT
In honour of the 6th biannual Dubai Watch Week exhibition, Hublot and partner Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons were thrilled to announce the release of two special edition Classic Fusion Black Magic Dubai Watch Week pieces, designed in collaboration with award-winning calligraphy artist Wissam Shawkat. Shawkat’s expertise in creating art that transcends boundaries and resonates with diverse audiences aligns perfectly with Hublot’s commitment to innovation and artistic expression.
We are excited to be a part of Dubai Watch Week, together with our partner Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons and releasing two exceptional special-edition timepieces. Following Hublot’s love for the world of art, we are pleased to reveal a special collaboration to resonate Hublot’s interpretation of Arabic heritage & culture – adding a great touch to the Art of Fusion. – RICARDO GUADALUPE HUBLOT CEO
The Hublot Classic Fusion collection is very well-liked among our Emirati clients, and we are very pleased to dedicate two special edition timepieces for them. We promised to provide excellent and culturally-relevant luxury alongside unique creativity; we are confident that these timepieces – perfect for men & women – will be enjoyed and sought after. – DAVID TEDESCHI HUBLOT REGIONAL DIRECTOR LATIN AMERICA, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
We are excited to commemorate these two extraordinary timepieces with Hublot, a symbol of our dedication to our clients, Hublot, and Dubai Watch Week. This collaboration is a tribute to our rich heritage and culture, representing unique artistic techniques in partnership with the incredibly talented artist, Wissam Shawkat. – MOHAMMED ABDULMAGIED SEDDIQI AHMED SEDDIQI & SONS, CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
It is an honour to be collaborating with Hublot and to get the opportunity to showcase my take on Arabian heritage infused into luxury watchmaking. Inspired by my deeply rooted appreciation for our language and culture, it is a joyous experience to draw inspiration from various words & phrases and to design two exquisite timepieces. – WISSAM SHAWKAT
Paying homage to Arabian heritage, the two timepieces have been designed with sourced inspiration from deeply rooted passion for heritage and culture – drawing inspiration from various phrases and words from the Arabic language. Both timepieces feature exquisite calligraphy inside their dials, a true testament to the fusion of art with exceptional watchmaking. The calligraphy, meticulously created by the celebrated artist Wissam Shawkat, introduces vibrant and contrasting colors that beautifully complement the sleek black cases and dials. The calligraphy reads “Al Zaman” and “Al Waqt” – both words meaning time in Arabic – to symbolize the fusion between the watch brand, Arabian culture, and calligraphy. The rich, bright colours set against the black background create an eye-catching and distinctive aesthetic that embodies the spirit of Dubai.
The Classic Fusion Black Magic Dubai Watch Week sits in a 42-mm case with a matching Hublot black ceramic bezel featuring a unique twist in the dial. Highlighting Arabic calligraphy in rich bright orange, blue, green, and red, the mechanics of the HUB1110 self-winding movement and its 42-hour power reserve mark the time. The alligator strap with a black steel deployant buckle extenuates further the robust contrast between the flushed calligraphy and black ceramic. Encased is Wissam Shawkat’s stunning calligraphy, which weaves its way around the dial, reminiscent of the mesmerizing landscapes of Dubai’s dunes and urban skyline.
For those seeking a touch of opulence, the Classic Fusion Black Magic Diamonds Dubai Watch Week 38-mm elevates the experience with the addition of 36 black brilliant-cut diamonds set on the polished black anodized aluminium bezel. Wissam Shawkat’s calligraphy in this timepiece is a true work of art, with the sparkling diamonds accentuating every curve and stroke, showcasing the perfect synergy between horology and artistic expression.
These calligraphic timepieces are sure to strike their mark on Dubai Watch Week and on the wrist!
AHMED SEDDIQI & SONS
Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, established in 1950, is the leading luxury watch and jewellery retailer in the UAE. With a customer centric approach at its core, the company offers an unmatched luxury retail experience with a curated collection of over 80 brands across over 50 locations. Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is recognised as a pioneer amongst retailers in the region, led by its commitment to service excellence, horology expertise, portfolio curation, and creating unique experiences.
WISSAM SHAWKAT – BIOGRAPHY
Wissam Shawkat is an Award-Winning Calligraphy artist and designer, specialized in letter forms, Born in 1974 in Basra (Iraq), he was first introduced to Arabic calligraphy at the age of 10, it was the form of four letters from the Arabic alphabet written across a school blackboard that started him on a journey that has shaped him both in early years and adulthood. Spurred on by supportive parents, he became his own tutor.
His teen summers were spent lettering for a local sign shop before he began studying for a degree in Civil Engineering at Basra University, graduating in 1996. The life as a Civil Engineer, though, was not Shawkat’s destiny and the point where his affinity for letterforms would wait no longer quickly came. In recent years, Shawkat has become known for a new calligraphic style, Al Wissam, which references several traditional scripts bringing them together with modern design.
He has received numerous prizes for his calligraphy and has participated as both an artist and committee member at multiple editions of the local and International Calligraphy Exhibitions.
He is based in Dubai, where he is engaged full-time as an artist, designer and Arabic typographer. His work is regularly featured in books on Arabic calligraphy and typography, His work is found in private collections, as well as museum collections around the world.
HUBLOT
Hublot is a Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1980 and based in Nyon. For its first ever timepiece, this fundamentally disruptive company combined gold with a rubber strap in a case with a design inspired by a ship’s porthole (hublot in French). Thus, the Art of Fusion was born, blending tradition, innovation, craftsmanship, worlds and talents. It became the brand’s aesthetic and technical signature.
This identity was strengthened in 2005 with the Big Bang, which attested to an unrivalled know-how in terms of complications, manufacture movements and state-of-the-art materials. Carbon, titanium, ceramic and sapphire have been developed on this model to technical extremes.
This ground-breaking, high-quality approach to watchmaking is summed up in its philosophy ‘Be First, Unique and Different.’ It gradually led to other collections with innovative designs: Classic Fusion, Spirit of Big Bang, Square Bang and Manufacture Pieces. These draw on high levels of craftsmanship, both in terms of the materials so dear to Hublot (such as Magic Gold, brightly-coloured ceramics and sapphires) and its manufacture movements (Unico chronograph, Meca-10 and large complications such as the Tourbillon, the Cathedral Minute Repeater and the specific Manufacture Pieces movements).
Hublot’s world extends to powerful partnerships including football. ‘Hublot Loves Football’ has become the slogan at the world’s biggest sporting events (such as the FIFA World CupTM, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA EUROTM) and through its ambassadors. This love of football continues in art, design, music, sport, fine dining and sailing. Lastly, Hublot’s implication in joint environmental projects with SORAI and Polar Pod reflects its concern for the issues of the day.
Almost 130 boutiques around the world share Hublot’s fervour and values, alongside the Hublot.com ecommerce site.
