DUBAI: UAE luxury watch boutique Ahmed Seddiqi has expanded into Saudi Arabia, marking the 75-year-old brand’s first store outside the Emirates. The focus, its CEO says, is on raising awareness about niche and independent brands, offering collectors and first-time buyers in the Kingdom the full breadth of what the industry has to offer.
The store in Riyadh offers 25 watch and jewelry brands, including several independent labels debuting in the Kingdom such as Italian labels Palmiero and Picchiotti.
Other independent brands at the boutique include Ressence, Bremont and H. Moser & Cie, while Girard-Perregaux, Ulysse Nardin and Suzanne Kalan are a few of the luxury names available.
“Our role has always been to shine a spotlight on independent watchmakers and jewelers, bridging the gap between enthusiasts and brands,” CEO Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi told Arab News.
Seddiqi is particularly keen to raise awareness about niche brands, highlighting their boundary-pushing creativity.
“We see an inherent need to drive awareness towards these brands, ensuring audiences are aware of the full breadth of what the industry has to offer,” he said.
“We understand that Saudi collectors are eager to engage with independent brands via their collecting journey; this is why our Riyadh portfolio has been thoughtfully curated to bring something new to the Kingdom’s luxury offering.”
Seddiqi emphasized the brand’s desire to act as a hub for watch enthusiasts in Riyadh, saying the aim of the store was to become a “cultural destination for collectors … we are here to cultivate a community of horology and jewelry enthusiasts in Saudi Arabia, creating lasting relationships with both established collectors and the next generation of clients.”
