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Time in New York: Dubai Watch Week Takes Horology Forum to America
News
Time in New York: Dubai Watch Week Takes Horology Forum to America
Not Just a Watch Event
In 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, Horology Forum went virtual, keeping watch education alive and well by inviting speakers to be on panels via the web. In 2021, Dubai Watch Week happened in-person in Dubai, but COVID restrictions were still in place and masks were required for those in attendance. This year, however, Horology Forum (edition 8) was back in its full, unmasked, hug-and-handshake glory and the city selected was none other than the one that never sleeps… New York.
Said Hind, “We knew we didn’t want to be in an auditorium. We didn’t want to be in a closed space. We wanted to be somewhere where people could walk past and think, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ We wanted to be in a space that would make people feel curious. We wanted the city talking about it.” And talk, they certainly did. According to Hind, the space — several ground-level rooms with massive windows used for pop-up events in the heart of New York’s Meatpacking District — was under contract for about a month. The windows were covered in Horology Forum stickers that made folks walking by ask questions. “We actually had several people sign up to attend the event just because they saw the space beforehand,” said Hind. “This was our goal, and the reaction to it was really great.”
Panels, Masterclasses and Debates
As with all Horology Forums that came before, there was no shortage of panels that included some of the biggest and most recognizable names in horology and luxury. Friday the 23rd was a day just for members of the press. There was a tour of the facility which was then followed by a panel discussion that included Hind Seddiqi, Tirath Kamdar with eBay, horologist and actor Aldis Hodge, and Content Manager for Seddiqi Holding, Sarah Bahman (who also served as the panel’s moderator).
Meanwhile, the masterclasses offered a watch photography class hosted by Atom Moore (which occurred on both Saturday and Sunday), a watch clinic hosted by Zenith (also happening both days), and a presentation on watch collection hosted by Christie’s.
There was a panel that discussed the luxury market and how luxury is defined today, as well as another delving deep into the world of NFT’s and crypto. All in all, there was something for everyone, and that was proven by the number of watch enthusiasts attending, not just from New York but from all over the United States. I spoke to two guys who’d flown in from Texas because they’d been following the Dubai Watch Week Instagram for years and really wanted to see what it was all about.
At the end of the day, there are two greatest things about any event held by Dubai Watch Week. Firstly, the events are inclusive. They do not judge anyone or exclude anyone. If you wear a Timex, you’re welcome. If you don’t even own a watch but want to learn about watches, you are also welcome. Secondly, the events are always free. FREE. As in, their sole purpose is to continue to educate people about the beauty of watchmaking and the stories behind the watches, and they don’t want people to have to pay for that knowledge. This is the most remarkable aspect of Horology Forum to me: it is likely the most genuine and honest watch event happening in the world today. And for the sake of the watchmaking world, I truly hope we never see the end of it.