This just in from GRIEB & BENZINGER -
 |
| Courtesy of GRIEB & BENZINGER |
The avant-garde watchmakers of GRIEB &
BENZINGER present a new signature bespoke watch to commemorate an auspicious occasion, the third anniversary of luxury magazine Simply Abu Dhabi.
Simply Abu Dhabi is the only English luxury magazine in the
emirate of the same name. Its CEO, Arnie Hira, recently outed himself as a big
fan of the German workshop known for bespoke
horological masterpieces. “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, Georg Bartkowiak (CEO of GRIEB & BENZINGER)
and I collaborated on a one-off
timepiece – something that will never be reproduced.”
The result, the BLACK TULIP SABUDHA IMPERIAL, is an
exceptionally decorated wristwatch inspired
by the majesty, mystery and magic of the Middle East, and prominently
spotlights a re-imagination of the most mythical jewel in the world.
 |
| Courtesy of GRIEB & BENZINGER |
This watch is the
quintessence of GRIEB & BENZINGER`s singular philosophy: limited to a
single, never-to-be-repeated piece,
it is decorated using irreplaceable nineteenth-century guilloché tools and handmade with skills that cannot be found
beyond GRIEB & BENZINGER`s workshop in Germany. What’s more, it is
significant to the publication, tightly wrapped
as it is in Middle Eastern culture and the mythology of Europe’s storied
imperialism.
Estimated to fall well
within the six-digit US dollar spectrum, BLACK TULIP SABUDHA IMPERIAL is a
sumptuous hand-wound watch, whose open-worked design is influenced by Arabic style and in particular inspired by the
artistry of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The brilliance and
sheer desirability of this solid rose gold wristwatch does not stop there:
attention is drawn to the bezel set with
black gemstones, which are not black diamonds, contrary to what might be
expected. Black diamonds are actually very commonplace nowadays, so instead of
black diamonds, the bezel is set with
incredible black spinel gemstones, aligned perfectly with invisible
settings and glittering with a deep, ethereal intensity. These very jewels, which are rarely if ever used in
watchmaking, have a wonderfully smooth, clean surface.
 |
| Courtesy of GRIEB & BENZINGER |
But what makes this
gemstone even more precious, and what elevates the BLACK TULIP SABUDHA IMPERIAL
wristwatch to even greater heights of wonder is the mythology surrounding spinel and the many priceless stones chronicled throughout history. The Black Prince’s Ruby is one of the most
famous gemstones in the world. It is currently mounted, pride of place, upon Great Britain’s Imperial State Crown. And it is not a ruby, it’s a spinel.
As Simply Abu Dhabi is one of the only
publications to be distributed to the Royal Palatial Homes and Offices of the
ruling families of Abu Dhabi, it made sense to use gemstones with a royal
association.
The price of this watch? A six-digit mystical as the watch itself …
No comments:
Post a Comment