Abu Dhabi to spend Dh500m to attract more visitors, UAE governments post Dh28 billion surplus, GDP expands 4.4% in last quarter, Christie’s Important Watches Auction in Dubai to be held on 22 March.

   
 
 

Market News

 

Abu Dhabi to spend Dh500m to attract more visitors.

Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) plans to spend Dh500 million as part of a marketing campaign to attract more visitors to the emirate, a top official said last week. As part of the marketing activities, the department would be conducting roadshows in the United States, China, United Kingdom, Russia and India, among others to increase visitors’ numbers. More than 10 million people visited Abu Dhabi in 2018, up by about 4 per cent compared to 2017. The number is expected to go up this year and the coming years due to the new initiates of the department, he added. 
 

UAE governments post Dh28 billion surplus, GDP expands 4.4% in last quarter.

The UAE government’s surplus posted Dh28 billion in the first nine months of 2018, according to the latest figures released by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority. The surplus increase is attributed to the rise in the UAE government’s revenues, which hit Dh304.5 billion in 2018’s first nine months, an increase of 4.8 per cent compared to the same period of 2017. 
The UAE’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.4 percent in the last quarter of 2018, driven by real growth in the non-oil sector, as well as the rapid growth in oil production, according to the latest estimates issued by the UAE Central Bank. 
 

Christie’s Important Watches Auction in Dubai to be held on 22 March.

Christie’s upcoming Important Watches auction on 22 March will present one of its best curated offering since the first Christie’s sale conducted by any international auction house in the region back in 2007. For 12 consecutive years Christie’s leads this market and has for 2019 already witnessed increased momentum across the region. 
The Important Watches auction will present just under 200 timepieces with a pre-sale estimate of $9,000,000 to $15,000,000, including various single owner collections, and a line-up of vintage Rolex Daytona, vintage perpetual calendars and chronographs by Patek Philippe as well as the largest selection of modern high complication ever offered in a Dubai watch auction
 
 

Company News

 

TAG Heuer signs deal with Ounass Men.

TAG Heuer has announced its partnership with Ounass Men, the UAE’s premier luxury e-retailer to sell the latest TAG Heuer best sellers, novelties, capsule collections and exclusive timepieces. This partnership marks TAG Heuer’s first collaboration with an e-commerce platform that focuses on the Middle East market and is aimed at ensuring greater ease of accessibility and convenience for customers.
 

Audemars Piguet unveil new lounge designer.

Audemars Piguet announced its latest lounge concept to be presented at Art Basel Hong Kong, Basel, and Miami Beach this year. Imagined by Brooklyn-based sculptural artist and designer Fernando Mastrangelo, the Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer’s immersive new space in the Art Basel Collectors’ Lounge will transport visitors to its home in the Swiss Jura Mountains. Mastrangelo’s new lounge concept, titled The Vallée will evoke Audemars Piguet’s home in the Swiss Jura Mountains through seamless gradients of tones and textures. 
 

Chopard and UCLA honour Barbra Streisand and Gisele Bündchen.

The UCLA Institute of the Environment & Sustainability (IoES) and Watch and Jewelry Maison Chopard honored legendary singer, songwriter, actress, and filmmaker Barbra Streisand and world-renowned super model Gisele Bündchen for their environmental activism at the annual Hollywood for Science Gala. As a house dedicated towards environmentally sustainable practices, Chopard served as sponsor of the event and crafted the special award given to the two honorees.
 

OMEGA Nations Golf Tour is back.

After the success of the inaugural tournament in 2018, Rivoli Group has announced that it will   host the second series of the OMEGA Nations Golf Tour 2019. The 2 ball Tournament and Net Stableford aggregate score format will be open once again to all adult amateur Golfers in the City. The tour will consist of 3 qualifier rounds beginning with the first tournament on March and a final event will take place on December 2019 at the Dubai Hills Golf Club. The winning team of each tournament will win a Pro-Am spot in the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic 2020 or the OMEGA Dubai Moonlight Classic 2020.

 

De Bethune partners with the Famous Russian Ballet Jewels.

De Bethune is supporting the Russian Ballet Jewels, a production by Vladimir Ippolitov whose mission is to promote not only the art of classical and contemporary ballet but also to share this passion with the world through some of the best dancers of our time.  The Gala concert “Russian Ballet Jewels. Spring season” is the second edition of the project aiming to introduce Geneva to the masterpieces of the Russian ballet and the international works inspired by the Russian classics. 
 

Girard-Perregaux partner of the famous motor racing “Winterace” 2019.

For the third consecutive year, Girard-Perregaux is partner of the WinteRace, among the most anticipated regularity races in Italy. From 28 Th of February to 3rd of March 2019, 50 teams with classic cars registered until 1976 will compete on a 550 km long route in two day stages. "Quasar", the name of Girard-Perregaux's most recent creation, which unveils, for the first time, the show of the iconic Neo-Tourbillon Movement under Three Bridges, in a skeleton version, through a case entirely made of sapphire glass. 
 
 

Product Launch

 

Longines exclusive Flagship UAE edition.

Longines pays homage to the United Arab Emirates by creating an exclusive watch issued from its iconic Flagship collection. Limited to 200 pieces. The Flagship Heritage UAE Special Edition houses a L609 automatic chronograph movement in its 38.50 mm round stainless steel case. The silvered opaline dial is adorned with numerals in Arabic language and indexes in rose colour. This watch comes with a black veal and a multi-coloured NATO strap, which boast green, white and red accents subtly hinting the colours of the United Arab Emirates flag. 
 

Ulysse Nardin reveals FREAK neXt watch.

Ulysse Nardin unveiled its latest concept watch, the FREAK neXt: a flying oscillator presents an entirely innovative 3D design, four layers of blades and a solid layer that serves as a flywheel. The new FREAK features a "suspended" beating heart that "levitates" without a balance-cock (Balance Bridge). The 3D multi-layer oscillator is chameleon-like: depending on the angle from which it is viewed, it presents glistening blue, purple or green reflections. The rubber strap is white with white stitching and dark blue “point-de-bride” stitches. 
 

Meccaniche Veloci presents the Icon Podium.

Meccaniche Veloci unveils a preview of its new version of the Icon collection: the Podium, with its distinctive four carbon-fibre dials. The lower two dials are skeletonised, allowing the technical details of the Manufacture calibre MV8802 a movement designed in-house by Meccaniche Veloci and capable of simultaneously handling four time zones. The unmistakable 49-millimetre piston-shaped case comes in natural titanium for the Podium model. 
 

H. Moser & Cie. introduces the Endeavour Centre Seconds Diamonds Purity.

The Endeavour Centre Seconds Diamonds Purity pairs the sophistication of its Blue Lagoon dial with the purity of diamonds. The case has been meticulously designed; made from steel, it is available in a new diameter of 38 mm. The movement that drives the Endeavour Centre Seconds Diamonds Purity is the self-winding HMC 200 calibre, Hand-stitched grey alligator leather strap, steel pin buckle. 
 

Franck Muller Vanguard Skeleton, the Rising Sun.

The Rising Sun, enriches the Vanguard™ Skeleton with a new striking red skeleton body. The bridges, hand-chamfered to perfection, showcase a subtle and elegant seconds counter at 6 o’clock. The Rising Sun limited edition is housed in a hand polished VanguardTM stainless steel case and features a white alligator strap with red stiches on the side that perfectly compliment the hypnotic red anodized aluminum bridges of the movement. 
 

Fabergé’s exquisite gifts for Mother’s Day.

To celebrate Mother’s Day, Fabergé presents four perfect gifts for any mother to cherish forever - the Palais Tsarskoye Selo Turquoise Open-set Bangle, the Palais Tsarskoye Selo Rose Crossover Bangle, the Emotion Multi-coloured Crossover Ring and the Simple I Love You Rose Gold Pendant. From the Heritage Collection – the Palais Tsarskoye Selo Turquoise  Open-set Bangle features turquoise guilloché enamel and white diamonds set in 18 karat yellow gold while the Palais Tsarskoye Selo Rose Crossover Bangle features pink opalescent guilloché enamel, set with white diamonds in 18 karat rose gold.  
 
 

Celebrity News

 

Lindsay Ellingson shines in Messika Jewelry.

Model Lindsay Ellingson wore the My Soul Choker, My Soul Earrings, My Twin Two Row Necklace, Thea Necklace and Move Necklace to the Times Square EDITION Opening Dinner and Event in New York.
 
 
 
 

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