SimplyAbuDhabi XV

8 3 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I commemoration to and continuation of these early days of watchmaking. In his workshop, he has repaired, restored, and even rebuilt watches and clocks for connoisseurs and collectors for decades, evenmaking parts himself that are no longer available for these ticking treasures. Ornate guilloché and engraving is visible on every single surface of the Baba Zayed Simply Abu Dhabi timepiece’s movement, transforming it into a true work of art. One reason for the wealth of guilloché patterns found on the movement is the incredible collection of vintage, hand-drivenmachinery that is at the brand’s disposal: Benzinger, a master engraver, self-taught in the art of guilloché, acquired a great number of vintage rose engines and guilloché straight-cutters from the reputable Kollmar company in the 1980s when it closed its doors in Pforzheim. Benzinger’s workshop now rivals any museum when it comes to possessing the tools needed to perform this special art. “This craftsmanship transforms it into a literal work of art,” Hira confirms. “This is no longer just a watch, this is art!” Let’s take a closer look at the mechanical heart of this watch. Like the marble adorning the inside of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, this timepiece’s hand-skeletonised movement features several colours that occur naturally thanks to the materials used: both black and white rhodiumhave been utilised to beautify some of the movement components. Synthetic ruby jewels used as bearings for rotating parts add a splash of red. Finally, a falcon head expertly engraved into the gear wheel bridge by Benzinger has been coloured using the finest gold platings available to the goldsmith’s craft. Since Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was known as the ‘Desert Falcon’, thanks to the immense pleasure he derived from falconry, this playful, personal detail does great justice to the timepiece as an homage to the United Arab Emirates’ first president. “The delight on the reverse is a hand-crafted Desert Falcon that has been integrated right into the movement components,” Hira describes. Additionally, two ornately skeletonised wheels capture the attention of the observer when he or she turns the watch over to peer at the movement through the sapphire crystal of the case back: the magnificent design was directly inspired by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque’s own ornate geometric decoration. The front is no less mesmerising, as it is embellished with emotional and historical details: at 7 o’clock, we find a small subdial displaying a likeness of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan that is executed in solid metal as if it were a bust or statue. This positioning at 7 o’clock represents the seven states of the UAE, of which Sheikh Zayed is the spiritual father. The frame surrounding Sheikh Zayed’s likeness is dotted with three dates in addition to his full name: 1914 (the year of his birth); 1971 (the year of the United Arab Emirates’ founding); and 2004, the date of his death at 80 years of age. The watch’s guilloché dial, like the Sheikh Zayed GrandMosque, is very discreet in appearance. Only a little colour punctuates the otherwise black, cream and silver hues visible here: the minute hand is tipped in green, while the hour hand is tipped in red. Additionally, the hour dots on the track surrounding the subdial that displays the time are also coloured a subdued green. As red and green are the colours of the United Arab Emirates, the black leather strap also features green and red stitching. In addition, the hours are written in Arabic numerals as opposed to Roman numerals or none at all. The solid platinum watch on its high-quality leather strap is elegantly understated; platinum represents the metalised version of white colour and also stands for understated inner value. “The watch itself is a masterpiece,” Hira continues. “It is completely made by hand and its core precious metal is the finest platinum.” All in all, the cream-colored base dial with its off-centre, functional subdial framed in black and skeletonised to reveal some of the movement could not be more clear with its purpose: to tell the time. The only real embellishment is the distinguished depiction of Sheikh Zayed. In fact, this high-quality timepiece practically immortalises him in a highly unique, beautifully crafted timepiece as only Grieb & Benzinger has the ability to do. The special-edition watch is indeed dedicated to the father of the United Arab Emirates and is full of details relating to his life and the country he so thoughtfully built. There was only one Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and one United Arab Emirates, and thus there will only be one edition created by Grieb & Benzinger to honour the great man. “This is not just a watch,” Hira sums up. “This is a piece of art, and perhaps one day it could be a piece of history.” For further information on this timepiece, please contact Georg Bartkowiak, managing director of Grieb & Benzinger at georg@simplyabudhabi.com.