SimplyAbuDhabi IX

TheTime isNow/ ATimelyTribute The third anniversary of Simply AbuDhabi is being celebrated in spectacular style this March, with a one-off creation by celebrated German watchmakers Grieb & Benzinger: an exceptionally decorated wristwatch inspired by the majesty, mystery and magic of the Middle East, featuring a re-imagination of themost mythical jewel in the world. AlexDoak reveals the story behind this amazing timepiece I n the busier and busier world of luxury watchmaking, how can a niche watch brand possibly be heard over the noise of the booming Swiss industry? The answer is to make something truly special, truly unique and genuinely collectable… and no one does this in finer fashion than Grieb & Benzinger. The watch on the front cover, known as ‘Black Tulip Sabudha Imperial’ is the quintessence of Grieb & Benzinger’s singular philosophy: limited to a single, never-to-be-repeated piece, it is decorated using irreplaceable 19th-century machines and handmade with skills you will never find beyond Grieb & Benzinger’s workshop in Germany. What’s more, it is particularly significant to the publication in your hands, tightly wrapped, as it is, in the Middle Eastern culture and the mythology of Europe’s storied imperialism. “I have been following Grieb & Benzinger for three years,” explains Simply Abu Dhabi’s CEO Arnie Hira. “They supported our inaugural edition, and I have become a huge fan of their watches. So, as patronage to Abu Dhabi and to commemorate our third birthday, we collaborated on a ‘one-off’ timepiece – something that will never be reproduced.” Estimated to fall well within the six-digit US$ spectrum, Black Tulip Sabudha Imperial is a sumptuous handwound watch, whose open-worked, ‘skeletal’ design is influenced by the Arabic style and in particular inspired by the artistry of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Regular readers of Simply Abu Dhabi will also recognise the magazine’s signature colour scheme, rendered