Simply Abu Dhabi XXII

2 2 7 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I T here is something undeniably appealing about companies that are still family-owned and operated. In a connected world, with the local and the global ever more blurred, and superbrands projected into our lives on many levels, the family run business evokes something wholesome. And yet that doesn’t mean that operations, or indeed turnover, need be modest. Graff is a prime example of a family business that has a vast global network and a brand recognition synonymous with the utmost luxury, particularly when it comes to jewellery and fine watches. The company was founded by Laurence Graff in 1960 and is currently managed by Laurence’s son, Francois Graff, as the CEO, with two more family members responsible for design, merchandising and production. This family team have built an empire comprising more than 50 stores worldwide, with offices in London, New York, the Far East, Geneva and Paris – all from its initial British foundation. Over the last 55 years Graff has been involved with the world’s most astonishing jewels. The company began making luxury watches just eight years ago, yet in that relatively short period they have upheld the fundamental dedication to flawless quality and attention-grabbing artistry. The MasterGraff collection is a case in point, and the latest addition to the line is the GyroGraff World. It is a striking timepiece which features a double-axis tourbillon at 5 o’clock, a stunning three-dimensional moon phase indicator at 8 o’clock and a 72-hour power reserve, which is indicated at 11 o’clock. Our Earth is celebrated in this superlative watch, of which only five pieces will be made. The dial on each of the five watches is an intricate work of art that depicts alternate views of the continents from the perspective of space. The wonderfully evocative and detailed finish is achieved by an incredibly painstaking and fastidious process. Each dial is created fromwhite gold, and a laser is deployed to sculpt out each continent in relation to the surrounding oceans. The timepiece is then hand-engraved using an ancient technique rarely used in the watch industry. In the next process a Graff master craftsman spends hundreds of hours with a chisel and chaser hammer, alongside honed hand-eye coordinated skill and precision, to create the intricate distinctions of each continent. Once the land mass has been sculpted the colour is applied with enamel, a blend of metal oxides and dyes ground into a powder which is then hand- painted on to the surface of the dial with a fine brush, each thin layer creating a profound depth and colour intensity. The exacting process also involves firing each layer at temperatures between 800 and 900oC, known as great fire or grand feu; this important step results in the vivid contrast between the sea and the land. With watches as spectacular as this, it’s a wonder Graff didn’t start making them sooner. Graf f – GyroGraf f World