Since its inception in 2015, leading Gulf retailer Ahmed Sediqqi & Sons has been championing the culture around watches through its program of panels, discussions and experiences called Dubai Watch Week. For a few days every two years, Dubai becomes an epicentre of horological activity and a remarkably robust vision of what a retailer-led industry event looks like. But it’s what happens in the ‘off’ years that’s particularly pertinent right now. Every other year, Dubai Watch Week stretches its wings and takes its signature Horology Forum to the world. So far it’s travelled to London and New York, had a digital edition during the pandemic, and next week, the 10th edition of this much-loved program is hitting Hong Kong.

From the 22nd to the 24th of October, Horology Forum 10 will be held in the heart of Hong Kong, specifically The Henderson, a sleek Zaha Hadid structure that opened its doors a few months ago. Hong Kong is widely regarded as one of the most significant hubs of watch culture in the world, making it the natural choice for Dubai Watch Week’s first foray into Asia. Hind Seddiqi, Director General of Dubai Watch Week, says: “We are delighted to host the 10th edition of the Horology Forum for the first time in Hong Kong, marking a significant step in expanding our international presence into the hub of the luxury watch industry within Asia. Hosting this insightful event with a new discerning audience allows us to connect with like-minded individuals in the local community and collectively explore the worlds of luxury and horology … We look forward to extending its legacy by uniting more watch enthusiasts worldwide and sharing this passion as a community.”

What to expect at Horology Forum 10

Running over three days, the Horology Forum 10 program promises a thorough exploration of watches in 2024, featuring some of the industry’s most interesting personalities. Revolution‘s Wei Koh will host a new format of the workshop called “The Watch Industry Starter Pack: How to build a watch brand in 60 mins”. It might seem like a lofty goal, but with the help of veteran industry figures Bertrand Meylan, Suzanne Wong and Fiona Krüger, attendees might actually be witnessing the birth of something special.

Other panels, such as “The pendulum swings East”, will see Carson Chan, Robin Tallendier from Atelier Wen and others explore the impact Asia has had on watchmaking, shining a light on an often uncelebrated aspect of the industry. The discussion “Whose Birkin is it anyway?” also promises to be one of the most insightful, as the Armoury’s Mark Cho, Wristcheck’s Austen Chu, Zoe Abelson from Graal, and Ali Nael from FutureGrail dive into the meaty issues of the secondary market, and the challenges and opportunities present in this sector at the moment. “Perpetual Puzzles” is a discussion on whether or not the age of innovation in the watch industry is over, while the discussion “To infinity & beyond” looks at the question of innovation through another lens, exploring the value of increasingly esoteric complications. Finally, “Travelling back in time” takes a macro view of the last 300 years of horological history, hosted by the one and only Tim Mosso from the 1916 Company (née Watchbox).

This formal schedule of talks is accompanied by a more experimental program — a series of masterclasses on skills both horological and non. Learn how to paint lume onto watch hands, explore the art of Chinese calligraphy, make your own automata and more. For a three-day program, Horology Forum 10 has certainly managed to pack plenty in.

Of course, anyone who has attended Horology Forum before — either in Dubai or abroad — knows that often, the real magic happens outside of the scheduled programming. It’s like your Instagram feed in real life, with collectors, brand representatives and industry voices wandering the halls. This relaxed, convivial attitude is no accident; Dubai Watch Week puts a lot of effort into ensuring that their events are about watch culture first and foremost.

Registration to to Horology Forum 10 is free. Find out more at Dubai Watch Week.