Thursday 26 / December / 2024
Muscat : Time management is crucial for success as sustaining focus on both 'work' and 'personal' aspects of life is increasingly becoming difficult in a world flooded with newer technologies. Paradoxically, the smartwatches enter our lives in the garb of 'wellness' gadgets but make us hyperfocus on the 'trackers' while ignoring the traditional way of life that nourishes not just our bodies but the very spirit.
Taking cognizance of this gap, Swiss Watch company-- Aramedes has launched a constellation of beautiful mechanical watches under its 'Mecca Collection' to pay tribute to the Muslim way of life.
Interestingly, the name Aramedes is an acronym that encapsulates the makers' intent. “AR stands for the Arabian Peninsula because it is the cradle of the Islamic world with a rich history in timekeeping, astronomy and mathematics. M stands for Mecca or Medina, the two holy cities. DES stands for Design Engineering Switzerland,” reveals Tom Morf, Aramedes Founder and CEO who is a recipient of prestigious awards in his 25-year-long career.
The Mecca collection from Aramedes comprises 4 watches -- Mastertimer Qibla, Mastertimer Sawm, Mastertimer Salah and Mastertimer Salah Tourbillon Automatic -- designed as restrained and timeless pieces with subtle echoes of the 1960s and '70s style.
To assist in the spiritual practice, the watches
come with innovative features like Qibla - the Mecca Compass, Salah - Prayer time indicator and Sawm - Fasting Indicator.
Connected with the variables of sunrise and sunset time and geographic location, these features were easier conceptualised than crafted.
As Tom puts it, the challenge was to integrate “electrical engineering, IT software into a mechanical movement, and to bring it into a watch that looks like a Swiss watch with a timeless design, that has got substance.”
Driving “innovation while preserving heritage,” Aramedes collaborated with Supercomputing Systems to patent a module to solve these challenges.The AraTec 1 module is a tiny layer of electronics that do the complicated calculations. Made in Switzerland, it calculates the location of the wearer via mobile radio triangulation that helps locate the direction of Mecca,” reveals Per Trifunovic, Chairman of Aramedes Board, who studied software engineering at the prestigious Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
The module uses Bluetooth to pair up with mobile phone through an app that helps locate the change in geographical location and shift in time zones - based on the phone GPS.
Not only does this preserve the integrity of the mechanical watch but also eliminates the need for frequent battery change. In fact, the small lithium battery that powers the module can last for 5 years.
The watches that started as an idea in 2016 were finally unveiled at the 2021 Dubai Watch Week to an enthusiastic response after years of passionate research and innovation.
Paying homage to the Islamic way of life, the Aramedes collection tells the story of cultural heritage with fascinating details. The back of the dial has beautiful engraving and the logo gentle Lion adorns the crown - the protective 'Coat of Arms' from Zurich. Controlling the heart of the watch as you wind it, the lion reminds you that at its very heart, it is Swiss Design Engineering!
Speaking on behalf of Mistal, Aramedes' partner in Oman, Dharmesh A. Khimji, Managing Director of Mistal said: “With great pride we bring this special collection that pays homage to our heritage and culture while staying ahead of the innovation game. The watches can be customized and made for great gifts and keepsakes.”
The Aramedes Watch Collection will be available exclusively at the luxury watch and jewelery boutique Mistal in Muscat.
