Collaborations in the watch industry often serve as markers for significant moments in time, celebrating anniversaries, partnerships, and shared philosophies. When Swiss watchmaker Gerald Charles joins forces with Ahmed Seddiqi, the preeminent luxury watch retailer in the United Arab Emirates, the result is a timepiece that encapsulates a dual celebration. The Gerald Charles Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin Tigers Eye Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Edition is a physical manifestation of this partnership, created to honor 75 years of the Seddiqi family's influence on horology in the region and 25 years of the Gerald Charles brand's unique design language. This limited edition of just 20 pieces is a dialogue between Swiss precision and Middle Eastern heritage, expressed through rare materials and an iconic case design.
The story of Ahmed Seddiqi is fundamentally the story of watch culture in the UAE. Founded in 1950 by the late Ahmed Qassim Seddiqi, the company began as a single boutique in Bur Dubai. It was born from a deep-seated passion for timekeeping instruments and a vision to bring the world's finest watchmaking to the region. Over seven and a half decades, that singular vision has blossomed into a retail powerhouse, an institution synonymous with luxury and expertise. The company's growth from one store to a network of over 50 boutiques, representing more than 100 brands, mirrors the incredible development of the nation itself.
Courtesy of Gerald Charles
What sets Ahmed Seddiqi apart is not merely its scale, but its core commitment to being more than just a retailer. It has acted as a custodian and an educator, nurturing a sophisticated community of collectors and enthusiasts. The family's legacy is built on a foundation of customer-centric service and a profound understanding of the art and science of horology. Celebrating a 75th anniversary is a monumental achievement for any family-run business, and for Seddiqi, it represents a legacy of trust, passion, and an unwavering commitment to excellence that has shaped the horological landscape of the entire Middle East.
On the other side of this partnership is Gerald Charles, a brand that carries the spirit of one of watchmaking's most legendary figures. The late Gérald Genta, the man for whom the brand is named, was a design prodigy who penned some of the most iconic timepieces of the 20th century. His creative genius gave birth to revolutionary designs that redefined the concept of the luxury sports watch. The Gerald Charles brand was established in the year 2000, becoming the final venture for the master designer and a vessel for his distinctive creative flair. The brand's mission is to preserve and evolve this unique design heritage, focusing on creativity, technical prowess, and unconventional forms.
The cornerstone of the Gerald Charles design language is the Maestro case. It is an object of immediate recognition, a complex and artistic silhouette that defies simple geometric classification. The shape is a harmonious blend of a square and an octagon, but it is the subtle, asymmetric curve at the six o’clock position—often referred to as a "smile"—that gives the case its signature personality. For this special edition, the stainless steel Maestro case is treated with a new, proprietary Colormix finish. This process imbues the metal with a deep, bronzed brown tone that possesses a captivating warmth and character, moving from a dark chocolate to a lighter bronze depending on how it interacts with the light.
Courtesy of Gerald Charles
The case construction is a complex assembly of 35 components, all meticulously polished to highlight the many facets and curves of its unique shape. Measuring 39mm by 41mm, its dimensions are modern yet considerate, designed to sit comfortably on a wide range of wrists. The profile is impressively slim at just 9mm thick, reinforcing its "Ultra-Thin" designation and ensuring it can slip easily under a cuff. This slimness does not come at the expense of robustness; the watch features a screw-down crown and is water-resistant to 100 meters, making it a versatile piece suitable for daily wear and not just a formal occasion timepiece.
The most striking feature of this anniversary edition is undoubtedly its dial. It is crafted from a single, solid piece of Tiger's Eye, a metamorphic rock prized for its remarkable chatoyancy. This optical phenomenon creates a silky, lustrous shimmer that appears to move across the surface of the stone as the viewing angle changes. The dial showcases deep, parallel bands of golden yellow, brown, and near-black, giving each of the 20 pieces a completely unique natural pattern. The visual effect is one of immense depth and movement, reminiscent of light playing across desert sands.
In a deliberate and confident design choice, the dial is kept completely free of hour markers or indices. This allows the raw, organic beauty of the Tiger's Eye to be the undisputed focal point. The only additions are the brand's name, "GERALD CHARLES GENEVE," printed in a warm gold tone below the 12 o'clock position, and "SWISS MADE" subtly placed at the very bottom edge. A polished, gold-toned inner bezel flange frames the stone, creating a seamless transition from the dial to the warm tones of the case and adding another layer of visual richness.
Courtesy of Gerald Charles
Reading the time is accomplished via a set of baton-shaped hands. They are sharply faceted, creating clean lines that catch the light for improved legibility against the complex pattern of the dial. Both the hour and minute hands are filled with white Super-LumiNova, which emits a bright green glow in low-light conditions, ensuring functionality is not sacrificed for form. The seconds hand is a simple, slender needle, sweeping smoothly over the mesmerizing landscape of the stone beneath it.
Visible through a sapphire crystal exhibition caseback is the heart of the timepiece: the automatic Caliber 2.0, also known as the GCA2000. This is a Swiss-manufactured movement specifically developed for Gerald Charles, and its architecture is focused on achieving a slim profile without compromising on performance. The movement measures a mere 3.7mm in thickness, a critical factor in achieving the watch's overall 9mm case height. It is constructed from 189 individual components and operates at a modern frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4Hz.
The movement provides a respectable power reserve of 50 hours, ensuring the watch will continue running for over two days when fully wound. The finishing of the caliber is thoughtfully executed, intended to be admired. The bridges are adorned with traditional perlage and Côtes de Genève stripes, classic decorations that speak to its Swiss origins. Perhaps the most prominent feature is the gilded rotor, which is intricately skeletonized with a honeycomb pattern and features the interlocking "GC" logo at its center, rotating with the wearer's motion to power the watch.
Courtesy of Gerald Charles
The ergonomic considerations extend to the details that define the user experience. The screw-down crown, located at the traditional 3 o'clock position, is finished with a textured Clous de Paris, or hobnail, pattern. This not only adds a decorative touch but also provides excellent grip for winding the watch or setting the time. The choice to ensure 100 meters of water resistance is a significant one, elevating the Maestro from a delicate object of art to a capable and practical companion for everyday life.
Complementing the warm tones of the case and dial is a bespoke strap made from sand-colored vulcanized rubber. This material is chosen for its durability, comfort, and resistance to the elements. The color choice is a direct nod to the golden desert landscapes of the UAE, a thoughtful tribute to the Seddiqi family's home. The top surface of the strap features the same Clous de Paris pattern found on the crown, creating a cohesive design language, while the underside is finished with a tapisserie of the Gerald Charles logo, a texture designed to enhance airflow and comfort against the skin.
The strap is secured to the wrist with a classic pin buckle. In keeping with the rest of the watch, the buckle is crafted from stainless steel and given the same polished Colormix finish as the case. This ensures a continuous and harmonious look from every angle. The integration of the strap directly into the lugs, a hallmark of the Maestro design, provides a seamless and flowing line from the case to the wrist, enhancing the overall wearability and aesthetic coherence of the piece.
Courtesy of Gerald Charles
The Gerald Charles Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin Tigers Eye Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Edition is a statement of exclusivity. With production strictly limited to only 20 pieces worldwide, it is a rare creation destined for the collections of discerning enthusiasts. The watch is priced at 94,000 AED and is available through Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. This limitation ensures that each owner possesses a truly unique piece of a shared history, a tangible link between the legacies of Gérald Genta's design genius and the Seddiqi family's pioneering spirit.
Case: Stainless Steel with Brown Colormix finishing, 39mm x 41mm, 9mm thick. Water resistance 100m. Screw-down crown with Clous de Paris finish.
Movement: Automatic Caliber 2.0, 3.7mm thick, 50-hour power reserve, 28,800 vph (4Hz). 28 jewels. Functions: hours, minutes, seconds.
Dial: Natural Tiger's Eye stone. Baton hands with white Super-LumiNova.
Strap: Sand-colored vulcanized rubber with Clous de Paris finish. Polished Colormix Stainless Steel pin buckle.
Price: 94,000 AED
Reference Number: GC2.0-SSMX-ET05-RSPN-SDQ
Notes: Limited edition of 20 pieces. A collaboration celebrating the 75th anniversary of Ahmed Seddiqi and the 25th of Gerald Charles. Features the first use of the brand's Colormix finish on a case.