Ali Mudara, an avid watch collector and distributor, shared his love for the kingdom by designing a limited number of Bahrain-inspired pieces to commemorate National Day…and they were all snapped up in no time.
The SEVENFRIDAY Bab Al Bahrain edition,which was launched during Jewellery Arabia, featured 45 special watches to pay homage to the island’s 45 years of independence.
Ali, a banker who lives in Dubai, worked with the Swiss brand for the past year-and-a-half to produce the vintage and sleek timekeeping devices, which were priced at BD580 each.
He said: “The brand has such a good following in Bahrain and many clients have become serial collectors, so it was only natural to create something special for Bahrain. It’s a sort of thank you for all the support with only 45 pieces, which means it’s the most exclusive in its category. This rarity means a lot to a watch collector.”
The time piece features Indian-Arabicnumerals, a 44mm stainless steel tonneau-shaped case with 30 metres of water resistance and the brand’s lugless fast-strap changer system. The island’s emblem is embedded in the front of the leather strap while the back boasts the kingdom’s flag as well as an engraving of Bab Al Bahrain.
Colin Menezes, the boutiques sales and marketing manager, said: “The design of the case, which looks like a crate, is typical SEVENFRIDAY, but the watch itself is Ali. He even selected the right landmark to feature on the watch. Bab Al Bahrain is ideal because that’s where business began in the kingdom. To have a Bahraini create such a watch is in itself personal and wonderful.”
Ali’s passion for watches is what started it all. He began exploring the world of watch making three years ago when he came across the stylish label.
In May, Ali opened his first stand alones tore in Moda Mall, which he refers to as a lounge for the island’s watch enthusiasts. He said: “It had to be modern and hip without the pompous feel of entering a classic high-end store.
“Aside from that brand, I also ended up snatching the top five independent watch producers and bringing the luxury watch Projekt8 concept to the kingdom. Inspired by the industrial factories, it’s a place to have a coffee and talk about watches. Whatever your preference, we are enthusiasts who love to learn from others and hope others learn fromus. This is a hangout which didn’t exist in Bahrain before.”
Ali is now aiming to host collectors for private events as well as making Projekt8 a household name in the watch world.
