The fascinatingly beautiful Limelight Gala Precious – a Ramadan limited-edition timepiece which is an homage to the Arabian Gulf’s rich maritime heritage and its timeless pearls – is the result of a collaboration between acclaimed Emirati designer Shamsa Alabbar and Swiss luxury watchmaker and jeweller Piaget.
While time takes on a sacred rhythm during Ramadan, Piaget unveils a timepiece that harmonises with the spiritual heritage of the region.
The collaboration brings Shamsa’s signature Token design to life, blending the Maison’s craftsmanship with the designer’s contemporary take on Arabic typography. A powerful emblem of heritage, the Token symbolises power, unity, and balance bringing her distinctive vision that celebrates both tradition, heritage and artistry during the Holy Month.
For more than half a century, the Limelight Gala watch has stood as a symbol of Piaget’s artistry, blending elegant design with technical prowess. The collection’s signature features – sensual curves, asymmetrical lugs and a harmonious fusion of gemstones and precious metals – have made it into an icon of timeless sophistication.
And, for this Ramadan, Piaget chose to once again explore an inspiring collaboration with a highly contemporary designer brimming with personality. A leading figure in the contemporary Arab jewellery world since 2013, Shamsa has been transposing the ancient codes of the Arabian Peninsula into a series of graphic pieces in which calligraphy and typography find new expression, bringing her distinctive vision to this timepiece that celebrates tradition, heritage and artistry during the Holy Month.
At the heart of this timepiece lies its captivating dial, where intricate gold arabesque motifs are delicately set on mother-of-pearl – an homage to the UAE’s rich maritime heritage. For the Emirati designer, this holds profound personal significance, deeply rooted in her family’s history.
Her grandfathers played pivotal roles in the region’s seafaring traditions – one as a distinguished dhow captain, the other as a skilled pearl diver. Their journeys and enduring legacy, from navigating vast trade routes to diving into the depths in search of treasures, are now beautifully captured in this horological masterpiece.
Building on the success of the first edition, which was also inspired by the designer’s signature Token design – a motif she’s made iconic throughout her jewellery collection – the new Limelight Gala watch introduces a mesmerising dial. The gold arabesque motifs harmoniously complement the iridescence of the mother-of-pearl. Like pearls, mother-of-pearl has also been a symbol of the rich history of the UAE’s gulf.
Much more than a simple arabesque, the dial also pays homage to Arabic typography and the iconic mashrabiya and distils the charm of a culture that is, now more than ever, part of the zeitgeist. Surrounded by the signature, lush asymmetrical waltz of diamonds on the bezel and lungs, the gaze follows the graphic pattern of the iconic Décor Palace bracelet, engraved by hand in Piaget’s Ateliers De L’Extraordinaire. The bracelet embodies the Maison’s unparalleled expertise in watchmaking, jewellery and goldsmithing.
“I will always remember the fascination and emotion I felt at the Piaget Manufacture, witnessing the artisan patiently carve the bracelet through different calibrated movements,” Shamsa said.
“We were speaking different languages and yet, we perfectly understood each other, down to the tiniest detail. This feeling remains even today when I take a look at this new creation that carries both our names.”
The Token motif will also be featured on the fourth edition of the Piaget Ramadan collectible coffee cups, adorned with six meaningful words – Light, Peace, Blessing, Tranquillity, and Generosity – personally chosen and beautifully designed in Arabic calligraphy by Shamsa, truly capturing the essence of Ramadan.
This collaboration will be presented during the Holy Month at select Piaget boutiques to celebrate the House of Gold and the jewellery watches, one of the cornerstones of Maison Piaget’s success.
For more information, please visit www.piaget.com.