Looking For A Chic Pre-Owned Watch? Visit Dubai’s First Ever Vintage Luxury Watch Fair
A scintillating array of luxury watches is presented by Watch Collector at the One & Only Royal Mirage in Dubai this week—the perfect place to find pre-loved pieces by major maisons
It’s no secret that Dubai is known for its love of fine timepieces—often the glitzier the better—but it can be hard to get hold of rare and exceptional pieces. An alternative to long waiting lists and production lead-times? Exploring the pre-owned watch market, predicted to generate a revenue of almost $3 billion in the UAE in 2024, which represents a growth of more than 20 per cent from last year. Appealing to the eco-conscious who value its circular economy, along with those who long to own one-of-a-kind watches that aren’t on every other wrist, the pre-owned watch market is becoming ever more appealing.
Watch Locator’s inaugural event intends to tap into this burgeoning appetite. The first ever professional pre-owned luxury watch exhibition in the Middle East, the fair will flaunt some of the most covetable fine timepieces, including the iconic Rolex Daytona, the Omega Speedmaster, the Nautilus and Aquanaut from Patek Philippe, as well as rare watches by the renowned horologist Gerald Genta.
Taking place across three days—November 1, 2, 3—in the elegant ballroom at the One & Only Royal Mirage hotel, the event is open to keen collectors and budding enthusiasts, welcomed to peruse the 25 pre-owned exhibitors on show, each chosen by Watch Locator for their expertise and verified for authenticity. For those in the know, Luxury Zone, Caliber Watches, Tres Hermanos, Gallop Watches, Allu UAE, Haute Horologe, Watch Trade, and Opto Watch Co. are just a clutch of the exhibitors on show.
“Dubai is a hugely respected hub for horology so it made perfect sense to kickstart Watch Locater here in this thriving city,” explain Georges and Camille Sofia, co-founders of Watch Locator. “Home to many discerning collectors and watch fans from around the world and with a growing interest in used luxury watches, we wanted to do something that has yet to be done and bring the regions first professional pre-owned watch sales event to the market.”
An interactive event, each day will feature live auctions with knowledgeable auctioneers, and visitors will also have the opportunity to sell their pre-owned pieces to a specialised exhibitor. “We have carefully curated a superb range of trusted exhibitors who share our passion for horology and are offering a rare opportunity for collectors to build relationships with like-minded individuals who wish to buy beautiful and hard-to-find pre owned timepieces in a friendly and trustworthy environment,” explains Camilla. “We cannot wait to welcome both connoisseurs and novice watch enthusiasts to the One & Only Royal Mirage for what we hope will be the first of many exciting events where we celebrate our love and respect for watches.”
For more information and tickets, visit here.
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