This November, Dubai will solidify its status as one of the world's premier horology destinations by hosting Watch Locater, an innovative sales event for rare and exceptional timepieces. Dozens of stunning watches will be available for purchase at the Middle East's first professional pre-owned luxury watch exhibition. Notable pieces at the inaugural Watch Locater event include the iconic Rolex Daytona and GMT Master, the cherished Omega Speedmaster, the motorsport icon TAG Heuer Monaco, the legendary Patek Philippe Nautilus and Aquanaut, and designs by the renowned Gerald Genta. The prestigious event will span three days—November 1, 2, and 3—in the luxurious ballroom of the One & Only Royal Mirage hotel on Dubai's waterfront. Numerous horology enthusiasts, watch aficionados, and knowledgeable collectors are expected to attend this significant exhibition, featuring incredible timepieces from 25 respected boutiques. These experts in pre-owned watches have been meticulously selected by Watch Locater to ensure not only a remarkable collection but also absolute authenticity and trust.
Enthusiasts from the GCC and Europe are anticipated to attend Watch Locater, exploring high-end watches from esteemed exhibitors such as Luxury Zone, Caliber Watches, Tres Hermanos, Gallop Watches, Allu UAE, Haute Horologe, Watch Trade, and Opto Watch Co. In addition to being a retail event for watches, straps, and accessories, Watch Locater will feature daily live auctions led by an expert auctioneer, where select pieces from exhibitors will be auctioned. Visitors will also have the opportunity to sell their pre-owned watches to specialized exhibitors. Choosing Dubai as the launch pad for the first pre-owned sales event was a natural choice for its founders, Georges and Camille Sofia. With over 40 years of combined experience in the luxury watch and jewelry industry in the Gulf region, they co-founded premium goods company Interlinx DMCC in 2017 and have now partnered with BARG Events to create Watch Locater. BARG Events, known for orchestrating events like EXPO2020 and COP28 in Dubai, has also worked with luxury brands such as Swarovski, Graff, and Chopard.
“Dubai is a highly respected hub for horology, making it the perfect place to launch Watch Locater in this vibrant city,” say Georges and Camille. “With many discerning collectors and watch enthusiasts from around the world and a growing interest in used luxury watches, we aimed to introduce something unique—the region's first professional pre-owned watch sales event. We have carefully selected a superb range of trusted exhibitors who share our passion for horology, offering collectors a rare opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals in a friendly and trustworthy environment. We look forward to welcoming both connoisseurs and novice watch enthusiasts to the One & Only Royal Mirage for what we hope will be the first of many exciting events celebrating our love and respect for watches.” The market for certified pre-owned watches has seen significant growth in recent years, valued at approximately $25 billion in 2023 due to global collectors seeking rare or discontinued timepieces. The United Arab Emirates continues to be a major horology hub, with its luxury watch market projected to generate nearly $3 billion in revenue in 2024, representing a growth of over 20 percent from the previous year. With its groundbreaking debut this November, Watch Locater introduces an exciting and innovative aspect to the watch industry in the Middle East, strengthening ties within the horology community and introducing new enthusiasts to the captivating world of watches.
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