At Dubai Watch Week 2025, time didn’t just tick, it talked. Hidden behind every polished case, every meticulously hand-finished calibre, and every glint of sapphire crystal was a story waiting to be told. This year’s standout pieces weren’t merely feats of horology; they were love letters to craft, culture, legacy, and the daring imagination shaping the future of watchmaking.
From poetic tributes and maison-defining milestones to designs born from desert horizons, starlit nights, and 150 years of innovation, these timepieces carried narratives as intricate as the mechanisms beating within them. They revealed the human touch behind precision, the emotion behind engineering, and the quiet magic that turns a watch from an accessory into a chapter of someone’s story.
In this feature, we uncover the tales behind the most fascinating watches spotted at Dubai Watch Week, the inspirations, the secrets, and the moments that transformed them into the icons they’re destined to become.
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS’ BRASSÉE DE LAVANDE AUTOMATON IS A TRIBUTE TO MOTHER NATURE, FLORA AND FAUNA.
Some timepieces tell time. Others tell stories. And then there’s Van Cleef & Arpels’ Brassée de Lavande automaton, a creation that looks like it escaped from a very chic enchanted garden and decided to debut at Dubai Watch Week 2025.
Since 2017, the Extraordinary Objects collection has basically been the Maison’s way of saying, “What if we made timekeeping… irresistible?” This year, they’ve outdone themselves. Enter: a lavender bouquet that does more than look pretty, it puts on a show. At first glance, the lacquered rose-gold sprigs curl into a charming little dome, like nature is whispering, I’m hiding something, come closer. And indeed, it is. Because once you activate it, the floral drama begins.
The lavender slowly opens, very much giving “Provence sunrise energy”, and reveals a butterfly that twirls with the confidence of a creature who knows it’s the star of this miniature opera. Nearby, two polished white-gold snails watch the whole performance like seasoned critics. Snails, yes. Time may be slow, but in this scene, it’s spectacular. Then the melody kicks in. A delicate tune fills the air, as if the automaton has decided that visuals alone aren’t enough, you deserve the full multisensory experience. Suddenly, you’re not looking at a mechanical object; you’re witnessing a tiny world coming to life.
MEET THE LV I, LOUIS VUITTON’S FIRST EVER WRISTWATCH SPOTTED ON THE SS26 RUNWAY.
Louis Vuitton has always been about more than just luxury, it’s about storytelling, heritage, and a dash of playful reinvention. Enter the LV I, the Maison’s first-ever wristwatch, originally launched in the late ’80s and masterminded by the legendary architect Gae Aulenti. A design icon from the start, the LV I defined a new era of horology with its bold, architectural lines and unmistakable Louis Vuitton spirit.
Fast-forward to SS26, and this classic makes a triumphant return, but with a twist. No longer confined to the wrist, the LV I can now elegantly slip off to become a pocket watch or even a chic necklace, proving that true design is timeless, and endlessly adaptable.
And for those at Dubai Watch Week 2025, we spotted this legendary piece in person, bringing its history, innovation, and playful reinvention right to the heart of the watchmaking world.
CHANEL’S ‘DOUBLE LION BUTTONS’ HIDES NOT ONE, BUT TWO SECRETS.
Black and gold, CHANEL’s iconic duo, come together in a triple-row long necklace that’s as mysterious as it is glamorous. At first glance, it drapes effortlessly, but look closer: it hides not one, but two secrets. Behind a carved yellow gold lion’s head button lies a sleek black lacquer dial, while the second lion conceals a gold medallion perfect for a cherished photo.
This baroque-inspired treasure, crafted in yellow gold with diamonds and black onyx, demanded 200 hours of meticulous work. The “DOUBLE LION BUTTONS” are linked to the chain with two sparkling 0.50-carat diamonds, making this necklace the ultimate mix of luxury, whimsy, and feline allure.
‘SUKOON AL LAYL’ FROM ROGER DUBUIS IS INSPIRED BY THE TRANQUILITY OF THE NIGHT DESERT.
Exclusively revealed at Dubai Watch Week as part of the “La Placide” series, the Hommage Sukoon Al-Layl is more than a watch, it’s a story. A tale of heritage, modernity, and serene elegance, paying tribute to the visionary spirit of Mr. Roger Dubuis. This one-of-a-kind masterpiece features a platinum case, bezel, crown, case back, and buckle, paired with a layered dial and the extraordinary RD1472 calibre with Perpetual Calendar. Every detail whispers sophistication, every function honors innovation.
Inspired by the tranquility of a desert night, the timepiece captures the calm, reflective nature of the Maison’s founder. “Sukoon” means serenity, and “Al-Layl” means night, together, they evoke the quiet majesty of the nocturnal sky, a nod to Mr. Dubuis’ fascination with astronomic complications.
Marrying Arabic astronomy with Geneva watchmaking mastery, the Hommage showcases the Maison’s favourite Perpetual Calendar complication with a striking Biretrograde display. It’s a timepiece that doesn’t just tell the time, it tells a story, bridging cultures, crafts, and the cosmos itself.
‘AUDEMAS PIGUET’S ‘DIAMOND OUTRAGE WATCH HAS ONE SET WITH 9.923 BRILLIANT CUT DIAMONDS AND 354 BAGUETTE DIAMONDS.
Audemars Piguet first unveiled the Diamond Outrage in 2017 at SIHH (now Watches & Wonders) in Geneva but spotted again in Dubai Watch Week 2025. This dramatic, cuff-style haute joaillerie watch is the final chapter in AP’s trilogy, following Diamond Punk (2015) and Diamond Fury (2016). Crafted in 18-karat white gold, the Diamond Outrage comes in two one-of-a-kind versions: one set with 9,923 brilliant-cut diamonds and 354 baguette diamonds, and another dripping in 11,043 brilliant-cut blue sapphires. Its sculptural spikes, ranging from about 29.3 mm to 40 mm, are created with the “snow‑setting” technique, making the metal frame nearly vanish under the stones.
Inspired by a snowy landscape in the Vallée de Joux, the design channels raw, crystalline power, an “explosion of stalactites on the wrist,” as AP puts it. As for the price, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill wristwatch: it’s one-of-a-kind. According to sources, the diamond version is priced around US$1.4 million.
VANGUART’S BLACK HOLE ARABIC NUMERALS IS AN HOMMAGE TO THE ARAB WORLD.
This Dubai Watch Week 2025, Vanguart invites collectors and connoisseurs alike to step into a universe where time meets artistry. The brand has just unveiled an extraordinary evolution of its celebrated Black Hole collection, the Black Hole Rose Gold and Black Hole Arabic Numerals editions.
More than just timepieces, these watches are a dialogue between technical mastery and cultural homage. The Black Hole Arabic Numerals edition, in particular, pays a subtle yet profound tribute to the Arab world, merging the elegance of Arabic calligraphy with Vanguart’s signature precision. Every curve, every detail, speaks of a region rich in history, artistry, and heritage.
Blending sophisticated craftsmanship with boundary-pushing innovation, Vanguart’s Black Hole collection transcends conventional horology, offering collectors not just a watch, but a story, one that celebrates time, culture, and the timeless spirit of the Arab world.
