EPISODE 263:  Live from Dubai Watch Week 2025: Rolex CEO Speaks, $50k Watches, and the Future of Watch Culture

Written By Felix Scholz

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This episode is a live, energetic dispatch from Dubai Watch Week 2025, where Felix is immersed in the new, vastly expanded, and culturally electric atmosphere of the Middle East's premier horological event. Felix reports on the show's massive scale at the Burj Park location, the wave of incredible new novelties released (like the Chopard Grands Sonnerie and new Louis Vuitton Escale stone dials), and the unprecedented level of CEO cooperation.

Discover why DWW is quickly becoming the most engaging watch event for the global enthusiast and what the new trends, like colored stone dials and a community-first approach, mean for the future of the watch industry.

1. Dubai Watch Week: Bigger, Better, and More Open (01:00:24)

  • Live Dispatch from Dubai: Felix is reporting live from the event (DWW), held every two years.

  • The Scale: DWW has moved to a new, larger location at Burj Park next to the Burj Khalifa, boasting 90 exhibiting brands and massive, multi-level booths from brands like Audemars Piguet and Rolex.

  • The Vibe: The event is non-commercial, free to register, and fosters a "school camp vibes" vibe and genuine community. 

2. Unprecedented CEO Access & Industry Talks (01:04:52)

  • The Rolex Keynote: A highly rare, hour-long public discussion with Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour (moderated by Wei Koh) and Ahmed Seddiqi. This historic event focused on industry challenges, the importance of attracting young talent, and Rolex's enduring retail partnerships. (Watch the discussion on the official Dubai Watch Week YouTube channel!)

  • The CEO Roundtable: An even more unusual event featuring four competing CEOs on the same stage: Julien Tornare (Hublot), Georges Kern (Breitling), François-Henry Bennahmias (AP), and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (Chopard). 

  • Chronomania Panel: A packed event featuring unexpected watch figures like investor Kevin O'Leary ("Mr Wonderful"), independent watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi (Akrivia), and cricketer Kane Williamson.

3. Hot Novelties & Emerging Watch Trends (01:10:00)

  • Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike: The major, high-end release everyone is talking about, which combines a Grande Sonnerie, Petite Sonnerie, and Minute Repeater using Chopard's innovative sapphire crystal gongs (a culmination of 11,000 hours of R&D).

  • Louis Vuitton Escale Ornamental Stones: Louis Vuitton debuts new, highly artistic versions of the Escale with turquoise and malachite used not just for the dial, but for the entire monolithic caseband (limited to 30 pieces).

  • Independent & Enthusiast Watches:

    • The Tudor Ranger with a sandy dial is noted for its regional connection.

    • Trilobe impresses with high-quality, non-prohibitive watches.

    • Oris ProPilot Date: A new, refined, and more wearable take on the ProPilot line.

  • Key Trends: The proliferation of colored stone dials (Obsidian, Lavender Jade, Quartzite) and a noticeable wave of sandy dials influenced by the desert environment.

  • George Kern's "House of Brands": Discussion on the formation of Kern's new group, which includes Breitling and the re-launch of Universal Genève. 

Show Notes: https://www.otpodcast.com.au/show-notes

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Felix Scholz
Next

EPISODE 263:  Johnathan Chan from Earthen Watch Company