First Look Ahmed Seddiqi & Gerald Charles Unveil the Tiger’s Eye Tourbillon

Ahmed Seddiqi and Gerald Charles marked the 75th anniversary of the Emirati company with a collaboration that began a month ago, when they launched the new Maestro Tiger’s Eye, a stunning creation introducing several firsts for the Swiss independent brand. The partnership did not stop there; the two companies have gone even further, unveiling a more exclusive edition featuring a tourbillon, while preserving the beautiful tiger’s eye dial and brown-treated case. This edition introduces a newly developed movement and a remarkable tourbillon showcased on the dial.

Inspired by the heritage of the United Arab Emirates, the watch is the result of a close collaboration between Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi, CEO of Ahmed Seddiqi, and Federico Ziviani, CEO of Gerald Charles, a partnership built on longstanding friendship and a shared passion for horology.

The stainless-steel case, retaining the signature Maestro silhouette, receives a metallic bronzed-brown finish achieved through a proprietary blend of chemical and physical treatments. Previously used only on internal components, this finish has been specially reinforced for external application, giving the case a distinctive warmth and enhanced scratch resistance.

Keeping the same dimensions as the non-tourbillon edition, the case measures 39 × 41 mm with a slim 9 mm profile, combining polished surfaces with the new brown Colormix finish to highlight its refined architecture. The front sapphire crystal features internal and external multi-layer anti-reflective coating, while the sapphire caseback reveals the movement within. A screw-down crown adorned with a Clous de Paris motif adds functional elegance. Composed of 35 meticulously assembled components, the case offers a water resistance of 100 meters.

At its heart lies a dial crafted from tiger’s eye, a rare and visually striking fibrous quartz prized for its golden shimmer and captivating chatoyancy. Each dial undergoes a rigorous selection process, ensuring that only the most structurally stable and aesthetically balanced stones are used. The result is a dial rich in depth, texture, and luminosity. The tourbillon at 6 o’clock is set within a precisely cut aperture in the stone, a challenging feat given the hardness of tiger’s eye, with the seconds indicated on the tourbillon cage.

In a bold first for Gerald Charles, the dial features no indices or minute track. This minimalist approach allows the natural character of the stone to take centre stage, unobstructed by traditional markers.

Both editions are powered by Swiss-manufactured mechanical movements, reflecting Gerald Charles’ uncompromising commitment to precision. The Maestro 9.0 Tourbillon is a celebration of mechanical sophistication, housing a tourbillon at 6 o’clock inside a custom titanium cage shaped like the GC logo. It is driven by a 22K rose gold oscillating mass engraved with the Gerald Charles honeycomb motif. A stop-seconds mechanism enhances precision, while the 50-hour power reserve ensures reliable performance.

Operating at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz), the movement remains impressively thin at just 4.8 mm and is composed of 196 components. The bridges are finely decorated with colimaçon, Côtes de Genève, and perlage finishes.

The deep brown tone of the case extends to the buckle and is paired with a sand-toned vulcanised rubber strap whose matte, lightly textured finish evokes the golden landscapes of the UAE. Together, the dial, case, and strap create a cohesive visual narrative. The Gerald Charles Maestro 9.0 Tourbillon Tiger’s Eye is limited to just three pieces.

For more information, you can visit Ahmed Seddiqi official website.