Mechanical masterpieces: Motoring time

Dubai International Jewellery Week 2008, the region's premiere watch and jewellery event, is back with 30 per cent more companies than last year.

The launch of the prestigious Italian watch brand Meccaniche Veloci by Istana Jewellers on Thursday is one of the highlights of the show, as it features the exceptional Quattro Valvole timepiece.

Engineering feat

The concept behind Quattro Valvole is a mixing of engineering, motors and personality which blends motor engineering with luxury watch-making. Set in the control panel of the latest edition supercar, Spada Condatronca, the watch is hand-assembled using the piston of a four-stroke engine. The aluminium box is obtained from the body of the piston following the same hardening processes using a lathe as in Formula One engines.

Quattro Valvole also features four dials and Swiss automatic mechanisms of very high precision as well as a box surface treated with a neo-quartz procedure as is done with the best-performing engines.

More than 520 companies from 30 countries are taking part in the event. Among the world-class brands exhibited for the first time are Dunamis watches, Meccaniche Veloci, Swiss Pearls and Moussaieff.

The show will once again feature international pavilions from the 10 key jewellery markets, including two new ones on the block, Singapore and China. New to this year's event is a series of educational seminars by the ARY Group on key aspects, trends and secrets of the jewellery industry.