There are many places that I wish to visit, and the Middle East is one of them. A few years ago, I wrote a massive feature about Baselword and SIHH (now called Watch & Wonders for Esquire in Dubai. I also wrote had the privilege of writing a review about my own jacket brand (Morley Rose) for Collection Magazine. This publication is based in Lebanon but distributed extensively through the gulf regions. However, apart from a stopover at Dubai International Airport, I have never visited any countries in the Arab Peninsula.
Over the years I have featured many watchmakers from around the globe but none in the Middle East. That is why I was delighted to discover a brand called NUUN that is based in Bahrain. Certainly, this sovereign state has a small population in comparison to other countries (1.2 million). However, many of the world largest financial institutions are located in the capital. It is also considered by the World Bank as being a high-income economy. Therefore, it is not surprising that many residents have a penchant for luxury items like automobiles and exquisite timepieces.
NUUN Official derives its name from NUUN Island, which is located off the coast of Bahrain. The concept was inspired by a passionate watch collector, who wanted to create a global brand that paid homage to his birthright. He also wanted to design timepieces that people could wear on a daily basis, rather than save for special occasions. In fact, they could easily be described a Beach watches because you wouldn’t be precious about getting them wet or sandy. Over the years I have met so many people that store their cherished timepieces in vaults and never give them any wrist time. Therefore, the philosophy of NUUN truly resonates with me.
Within the range, NUUN Official offers numerous collections that have a distinctive appearance. The first thing I noticed was the case design, which is very similar to the Patek Philippe Nautilus. This isn’t a coincidence as the owner of the company is a watch connoisseur and loves the classics. However, the brand hasn’t created replica’s or clones. All of their timepieces are customisable and can be fabricated from different materials. I personally love the MOP (Mother of Pearl) silver, which is influenced by Bahrain’s heritage of pearl trading. This sublime detail is complimented by bold Arabic numerals. Apparently, loyal customers of NUUN Official are proud to say people often are inquisitive about the name of the brand.
NUUN Official certainly isn’t a small local micro brand. They are a global operation and have extensive distribution networks worldwide. Impressively the company has some really high profile clients like King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah. In fact, in appreciation for the exposure from the Monarch they made him some beautiful bespoke Swiss mechanical watches. To date, the company has sold over 15,000 timepieces to clients in Japan, the Middle East, Italy, Spain and the United States.
For more information about NUUN Official follow this link
