Saudi Arabia’s inaugural edition of the celebrated Salon des Grandes Complications (SDGC) has opened its doors in Riyadh.

The watchmaking salon featuring 15 of the world’s finest maisons opened in the presence of Heinrich Schellenberg, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

The four-day event will be open to the public until May 11.  

International watchmakers - both larger manufactures and smaller independent maisons – are showcasing new pioneering masterpieces and acclaimed icons at the exhibition. Collectors, connoisseurs and those with a penchant for the ultimate in mechanical innovations will have the opportunity to view and order sought-after luxury wristwatches that may not be seen elsewhere. 

Exhibiting brands include Breitling, Bulgari, Chopard, Czapek & Cie, Fabergé, Girard-Perregaux, Greubel Forsey, Kerbedanz, L’Epée 1839, Lang & Heyne, Panerai, Rudis Sylva and Vacheron Constantin, Vianney Halter, Voutilainen.

Highlights include Breitling’s new Avenger Hurricane Military, a superlative-charged chronograph with black avant-garde case in Breitlight, issued in a 1,000-piece limited edition, Bulgari’s Ammiraglio del Tempo, a unique one-off piece which combines chiming watches with haute horlogerie and is the only wristwatch to combine a détente escapement and minute repeater, and Chopard’s LUC Time Traveler One, its very first worldtime watch which simultaneously tracks the time in every zone, indicating the time anywhere in the world.

Amongst others, Czapek & Cie is presenting its latest creation, the Place Vendôme Tourbillon suspendu “Ici et Ailleurs” designed in its signature style but featuring three subdials, a one-minute suspended tourbillon and second time zone, and limited to 25 numbered pieces. 

Fabergé is showcasing a piece exclusive to Alfardan Jewellery, the Visionnaire I, a flying tourbillon featuring a baguette-cut diamond-set bezel of 14 carats, and Girard-Perregaux its Laureato collection, which combines progressive, unique designs with a feeling for detail, excellent timing capacity and perfect taste. 

Greubel Forsey’s standout piece is the limited edition Balancier, with a beautifully exposed balance wheel at eight o’clock that bulges from the case, Kerbedanz presents its Maximus, featuring the largest tourbillon for a wristwatch in the world, with spectacular dimensions making it possible to see and understand the functioning of the tourbillon, and L’Epée 1839 the Destination Moon, a quintessential torpedo-shaped rocket of childhood dreams, built by the famous clockmaker and conceived by MB&F.

Lang & Heyne’s Georg is displayed, a novelty with a rectangular case housing a brand new movement, a beautifully curved case and a giant sized eccentric second sub dial, Panerai’s Luminor Marina 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic, the first Luminor Marina made using carbotech, a material with absolutely unique characteristics based on carbon fibre never used before in the world of fine watchmaking, and Rudis Sylva’s RS 16, Harmonious Oscillator, a revolutionary horological mechanism with toothed balances that instantly eliminate the effect of gravity in the vertical position.

The highlight from Vacheron Constantin is the Traditionelle Calibre 2253, a masterpiece equipped with a tourbillon, a perpetual calendar, an equation of time as well as sunrise and sunset times for the city of Riyadh, from Vianney Halter the Deep Space Tourbillon, a 4D representation of the universe with a huge central 3-axis tourbillon surrounded by the display of time, and Voutilainen the Scintillante, a unique piece designed to marry the worlds of great watchmaking tradition with the innovative character of luxurious jewellery.

Salon des Grandes Complications is held at the Al Faisaliah Hotel, Riyadh, alongside the prestigious Jewellery Salon. 

The exhibition is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland, Alfardan Jewellery, Abuissa International, Platinum Sands and Watch Anish.