Are you cursed – or blessed, whichever way you see it – with the horological bug? Do you think about watches all day? Do you find parts of your identity in your collection? Then know that the time is now to actually manifest this self-expression into your treasured objects with the Dubai Watch Week x Grail Watch Competition.

As the name suggests, this is your moment to showcase the future of watchmaking, lending your eye to a timepiece of your creation, as a contender to add to any enthusiast’s collection. Designed as part of a five-year initiative by Dubai Watch Week – an educational platform spotlighting watchmaking and forging bonds to a community of aficionados – the contest sets out to spotlight upcoming watchmaking talent, provide mentorship and support, but above all, to imagine dreams into a reality on the wrist.

Making the announcement at Dubai Watch Week’s biennial Horology Forum – a locus of educational panel talks and collector meet ups around the globe – the competition follows a theme for 2025: Shaped Watches. If you’re not well-versed in all things horological, shape is having quite the time of it right now. Distorted circles, unusual oblongs and asymmetrical triangles are challenging convention this year, with leaders in the field including the likes of Anoma and Berneron. So why not lean on in and challenge the tropes of tradition and go beyond a tonneau or cushion?

For the budding brands in the making out there, submissions are open and will remain so until 31st December. That’s enough time to hone your concept, coin the name and build a business plan, all before you can say Happy Holiday’s. Open to any and all, the competition welcomes those that can speak the entire dictionary of horology to those that are simply curious by what a watch could be.

Should you hit the big time and make it to the final round, you’ll be summoned to the haven of horology, Seddiqi Holding HQ in Dubai to meet with a panel of judges from leading industry figures to Hind Seddiqi and Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi, who helm Dubai Watch Week. If this sounds like all you want and more and you’re ready to bring a hint of yourself to the horological world, then beat the clock and set the time yourself.

Discover more at dubaiwatchweek.com.