Customised Signature
Ninety-nine sets of three Tawaf watches have been produced, each of them in a different metal. Each set is unique, bearing as it does one of the 99 names of Allah engraved on the bezel and on its travel case.
Anti-clockwise Movement
What makes Tawaf unique is its special mechanism that causes the hands to rotate anti-clockwise, in the same direction as the circumambulation of pilgrims.
Crescent Moon
The crescent moon is a recurring symbol on the Tawaf watch. The balance wheel has the shape of the crescent moon, while a window displays the phases of the moon, reminiscent of the crescent and Islamic culture.
Tawaf is a reference to pilgrimage and by definition, to travel and movement. Therefore each set of three Tawaf watches is delivered in a luxury travel case for weekend trips. The bespoke travel case is fitted with SwissKubiK rotating winders for automatic watches.
SwissKubiK winders are made in Geneva, designed to reproduce the natural movements of the wrist and continuously trigger the watch mechanism. They ensure that the watch runs smoothly and keep it in good working order.
Once the watch is safely inserted in the case, the movement begins to rotate to wind the automatic watch mechanism. It is programmed for 1900 rotations per day (950 in each direction), for optimal winding of your Tawaf watches.
Each Tawaf watch has been carefully ensconced in its own winder housing. The effect is a stunning arrangement that will also protect the watches and ensure safe transport.
The outer covering of the chest is made of full-grain leather and coach hide, the interior is made of microfiber. All the metal parts are of heavy yellow brass machined from solid, mirror-finished and nickel-plated.
Each plaque in the chest bearing the divine attribute is individually hand-engraved and lacquered. A mashrabiyan design embroidered on the interior completes the elegant look. The final element is a cufflink compartment atop the three watches.
Design
Housed in a 45-mm-diameter circular case fashioned in platinum, pink gold, or stainless steel, the Tawaf dial is covered by a curved sapphire crystal dome underneath which is a unique guilloche dial design with three windows for the phases of the moon and the month. The day of the week is set on a skeleton disk. The delicately brushed or polished metal bezel underscores the striking appearance of the whole, with index lines and Arabic numerals. The hour and minutes are indicated by slim black hands curving into a semi-circular hollow notch and an arrow at the tip. Each of the 31 days is indicated by a straight hand. The counterweights of the three hands are small disks that enhance the streamlined look of the dial.
Mechanism
The uniqueness of the Tawaf doesn’t stop at the design, for it also extends into the exceptional finishing touches, a continuation of the fine Swiss watchmaking tradition. An exclusive, Swiss-made automatic movement containing 23 rubies operating at a frequency of 4 Hz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour, powers the piece. It has a 40-hour power reserve, thanks to its special raised Tawaf rotor, which keeps the heart of this jewel ticking. The reinforcement of the bridges, the Geneva stripes, and the refined finishing of the surfaces make Tawaf the ultimate technical achievement, earning it a place among the most exceptional timepieces.
Finish
The plate pays homage to traditional Arab architecture with mashrabiyan-shaped patterns, and reveals part of the movement in a disk and half-moon assembly that can be admired through the sapphire crystal. This section is completed by a black crescent moon balance wheel. The crown sits proudly and uniquely in the upper right-hand area of the case, in reference to the black stone, which is set in a silver frame on one side of the Kaaba. A precious cabochon adorns the crown, adding a touch of elegance to the whole, making a bold style statement. The Tawaf watch comes with an exclusive black alligator leather strap with large scales, and a crescent-moon-shaped buckle that snaps open with the touch of a push-piece.
