Galet Secret a timepiece you can keep – for Dh1 million

A Galet Secret timepiece by luxury Swiss watchmaker Laurent Ferrier. Courtesy Laurent Ferrier

A young Swiss watchmaking company has debuted in the Middle East, with a presence in Dubai. Laurent Ferrier has partnered with the luxury watch retailer Ahmed Seddiqi and Sons to sell its customised timepieces for men and women.

But you may have to save up your dirhams if you want to wear one of these wristwatches – they come with a price tag anywhere between Dh184,000 and Dh700,000.

And the most expensive piece available – the Galet Secret, which features a mechanism to open up the dial either on demand or in passing – will set you back 280,000 Swiss francs (Dh1.16 million), depending on the customisation.

The eponymous Mr Ferrier launched the brand in 2010 in Geneva, where all of the luxury watchmaker’s pieces are made.

And there are not many on the market. The company manufactures only 100 pieces a year to be sold through 16 outlets globally including the United States, France, Ukraine, Hong Kong and Japan.

When it comes to collectors’ items, there are even fewer in circulation. They are not on display in stores but shown to collectors at private occasions or in the comfort of their own home.

It takes one to two months for the watchmakers to put in the time system alone.

For those interested in the Galet Secret, the mechanism to open the dial window can be set on automatic activation for an hour each day or at a chosen time. It takes an hour for the dial to open up or close. The dial is attached to a leather wristlet.

“I nurtured a dream of making watches that represent my horological values: simplicity, precision and pure, uncluttered beauty,” says Mr Ferrier.

The company had a turnover of about 5m Swiss francs last year.

The models available at Ahmed Seddiqi and Sons’ Dubai Mall outlet include a Galet Classic Tourbilllon, two Galet Travellers, which has a dual time display, two Galet Micro-Rotors and a Lady F for women. These range in price from 45,000 Swiss francs for the Galet Micro-Rotor and go up to 180,000 Swiss francs for the Galet Classic Tourbilllon, all depending on the customisation level required.

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