Hind Seddiqi On The 10th Edition Of The Dubai Watch Week Horology Forum In Hong Kong

Dubai Watch Week's Horology Forum is set to make its Asian debut in Hong Kong this October, marking a significant milestone for the prestigious event. Now in its 10th installment, the forum has chosen Hong Kong—a city renowned for its passionate watch culture—as its first Asian destination. From October 22nd to 24th, watch enthusiasts and industry professionals will gather at the stunning Christie's auction house, housed in the Zaha Hadid-designed Henderson building, for a series of insightful discussions and exhibitions celebrating the art of horology.

We caught up with Hind Seddiqi, Director General of Dubai Watch Week on fostering global connections within the luxury watch industry while engaging with new, discerning audiences and more!

THM : Dubai Watch Week has become a significant platform for horology. What was the initial vision behind the Horology Forum, and how has it evolved since its inception?

Hind : When we established DWW in 2015, Horology Forum was created to be the leading platform where industry professionals could openly discuss topics that were becoming increasingly important to addresss and hopefully inspire change. Since then, we pivoted to also launch the travelling editons of Horology Forum, with London in 2018, our Youtube platform in 2020, NYC in 2022 and now Hong Kong in 2024; to continue to gather the watch community across global cities and share aspects of Dubai Watch Week with them. The key to our success has been to constantly elevate our programming by introducing new formats and welcoming new speakers who are key to an enriching experience.

THM : Can you share some of the standout moments or discussions from past Horology Forums that have left a lasting impression on you?

Hind : There have been many amazing moments and some unexpected ones that did indeed leave the audience speechless. But I think my fondest moments include the Stephen McDonell Creative Hub in 2023, the emotions we all felt in the room that day was overwhelming. Another favourite was from 2018 in London when John Reardon played a soundbite from George Daniels for Roger Smith, it was extremely moving. I also love that the sessions are always available to watch on our YT channel and I find myself rewatching panels from time to time.

THM : It's great to see the Forum in Asia this year. Could you tell us why you picked Hong Kong?

Hind : We were always keen to take the platform to Asia and when we started to really plan for HF.10, Hong Kong seemed like the perfect fit. There is an incredible depth of knowledge, love for horology and eagerness to learn more which I am fascinated by. I am very much looking forward to meeting everyone during the event and hopefully they enjoy what the programme has to offer.

THM : Besides being inclusive and educational, what do you think sets the Horology Forum apart from other watch-related events and forums around the world?

Hind : It allows guests to immerse themselves in the topics and learn from the thought leaders on stage, while truly taking the time to experience the programme. It is an inclusive and engaging format to network and interact with all guests onsite in a relaxed yet interactive atmosphere. The programme is fully conceptualised in-house and allows for the discussions to be raw and unedited.

THM : For someone attending the Dubai Watch Week Horology Forum for the first time, what would you say is the must-attend session or experience at the Horology Forum?

Hind : All the panels! We try to elevate our formats and programming each edition and really listen to the feedback we receive to create something unique each edition. For HF.10 we have also curated some unique masterclasses and I would definitely encourage guests to register and book slots.

THM : Lastly, what do you hope attendees take away from the Horology Forum and Dubai Watch Week overall?

Hind : I hope HF.10 is able to futher ignite the passion of the community and is an experience that they will all remember. This is only a small aspect of Dubai Watch Week but hopefully this entices more audiences to join us for next year’s edition in 2025.

The conversation ended with asking her about her your wrist companion for this year's horology forum to which she said, “Most likley my Patek Phillippe 5180/1G-001.”

Stay tuned as we bring you more from the Horology Forum in Hong Kong.