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Mon, Nov 17, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 27, 1447 | Fajr 05:17 | DXB 
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Inside UAE's Ahmed Seddiqi x Ulysse Nardin's 'AIR' watch
In honour of the 75th anniversary of Ahmed Seddiqi, Ulysse Nardin crafts a limited edition of its Diver [AIR] watch that defies weight yet carries the gravity of history
For 75 years, Ahmed Seddiqi has been the heartbeat of watch culture in the Middle East. Long before Dubai’s skyline became a global symbol of ambition, Seddiqi was already shaping another kind of aspiration — a deep, enduring appreciation for fine watchmaking. Through decades of curation and collaboration, the family business played a huge role in turning a desert trading hub into one of the world’s most sophisticated watch markets.
It feels fitting, then, that Seddiqi marks its 75th anniversary with a partnership with Ulysse Nardin, the independent Swiss maison celebrated for its fearless innovation. Together, they are marking the milestone with the Diver [AIR] Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Edition — a limited series of just 30 pieces of a timepiece that reimagines the notion of a dive watch.
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At a mere 52 grams including the strap, the Diver [AIR] is the world’s lightest mechanical diver. While it might be light enough not to be felt on the wrist, visually, it’s anything but subtle. The Diver [AIR] wears its engineering proudly. It appears less constructed than carved — the dial, stripped to its essentials, is a skeletonised marvel that reveals the rhythmic pulse of the UN-374 Manufacture calibre, its bridges and main plate crafted from 90 per cent recycled titanium.
The Seddiqi edition stands apart through its signature hue — a bold, vibrant blue woven into every surface. The special colour lights up the Super-LumiNova on the hands and indexes, the CarbonFoil bezel, the crown guards, and even the elastic strap. It’s not just colour for aesthetics; it’s character.
Technically, this watch is a feat. It’s water-resistant to 200 metres, yet astonishingly light and durable, thanks to Ulysse Nardin’s continuous innovation with advanced materials. The 44mm case combines recycled titanium with Nylo-Foil — an eco-conscious blend of reclaimed fishing nets and upcycled carbon fibre. The CarbonFoil bezel is forged entirely from recycled carbon, giving the piece a tactile sense of lightness.
Turn it over and you’ll find a subtle “75” under the mineral-glass caseback — a quiet nod to the retailer’s journey, from a single storefront the visionary Ahmed Qassim Seddiqi opened in 1950 in the Bur Dubai Souk to the beating heart of the Middle East’s watch world.
The Diver [AIR] isn’t just a commemorative timepiece; it’s a meeting of two pioneers —one built a region’s watch culture from the ground up and taught it to fall in love with time; the other continues to challenge its limits and rewrite the rules of modern watchmaking.
Together, they’ve created something extraordinary — a watch that wears like air, yet carries the gravity of history.
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