Luxury wristwatches are a status symbol in a region where material goods are the best indicator of a person’s wealth. Covered with gems or multifunctional features, watches tend to tell the story of their owner. From pocket watches to wristwatches with multiple complications, mechanical timepieces have been revamped one century to the next. In the 1970s they faced a crisis, as quartz watches became fashionable. “During this period, it was the Middle East that partly saved IWC, due to special orders some important people used to place with us,” said renowned IWC designer Kurt Klaus. IWC has worked for over 30 years in the Middle East, initially perceived as a niche market where the company supplied royal families in Dubai and Oman. Today, wristwatch makers are taking a keen interest in the region, perceived as a lucrative market because of its recent oil riches. “The Middle East is an important
