Under the patronage of His Higness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry, the world-renowned family-owned Patek Philippe watch company brings the inaugural Watch Art Grand Exhibition to Dubai from 24-27 January 2012 at the Madinat Jumeirah.

The Middle East is a region which has long appreciated Patek Philippe’s watchmaking. It is also a place where the Stern family, owners of Patek Philippe since 1932, have developed strong ties as well as family friendships. Held at the Madinat Jumeirah, the exhibition will offer a rare insider’s perspective into the art of watchmaking within a family-owned company. Visitors will be able to explore around 400 exhibits presented in eight rooms categorized according to specific themes.

Showcased will be the complete collection of Patek Philippe timepieces, including complications and grand complications ranging from perpetual calendars to minute repeaters, such as the The Sky Moon Tourbillon, the most complicated Patek Philippe wristwatch. Also on show will be one-off pieces featuring specialized engraving or enameling such as found in the handcrafted Dome Clocks, as well as timepieces from the Patek Philippe Museum including ‘The Great Flower’ pocket-watch designed for the Arabian market circa 1660 and the ‘Love and Music’ snuffbox from the 1830 period.

The event is free to the public and allows visitors to discover around 1500 square meters of exhibition space recreated in the form of the Geneva-based environment of the company’s historic headquarters. Such as set up allows visitors the chance to experience the company’s history from its origins in 1839. The exhibition will travel the world after its Dubai inauguration.