Feature: 5 Reasons Watch Fans Will LOVE the 2022 World Cup
With the 2022 football World Cup starting soon, us watch nerds aren’t just excited about the skills we’re going to witness on the pitch but some of the watches we’re going to see in and around the tournament, too. And with this year’s event taking place in the Middle East, we think it’s going to be one heck of a spectacle. So, without further ado, here are five reasons watch enthusiasts will love the 2022 World Cup.
The Location
Taking place late in the year, the 2022 World Cup is being hosted somewhere that’s scorching in the summer—so much so that the footballers cannot play during the normal June to July period. This location is, of course, Qatar. Located in the heart of the Middle East, it’s a place that’s renowned for being loco about luxury watches. In recent years several top auction houses have opened in the region, it’s full of watch obsessives who have outrageous collections, plus Max Busser of MB&F even lives in Dubai, a neighbouring emirate.
The Sponsor
It’s no secret that Hublot loves football. In fact, it’s one of the few luxury watch brands to get behind the ‘beautiful game’. The official timekeeper of the 2022 tournament, Hublot watches have been spotted on the wrists of multiple players and managers alike over the years. With this in mind, we reckon it’s safe to assume that some new special-edition World Cup Hublots may be coming our way soon—maybe limited to a fitting 2,022 pieces?
Qatar’s Royal Family
Most royal families, being rich, have a discerning eye for all things luxury, and Qatar’s fabulously wealthy monarchy is no exception. In fact, Prince Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the brother of the current emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has an incredibly impressive high-end watch collection, including a range of Richard Milles. One of his many pieces, the RM-56-02 Tourbillon Sapphire, is worth a whopping $2.2 million!
The Shopping
For anyone who’s ventured to—or even heard of—the ever-popular Dubai, you’ll know that among its main attractions are the huge opulent shopping malls. These malls aren’t just in Dubai, though, but across Qatar and the rest of the Middle East. Some of the biggest and best in the world, they’re filled with some incredible installations such as water falls and aquariums, as well as the top watch brands, of course, tempting both fans and players to do a little watch shopping!
Qatar Dials
Image courtesy of Bonhams
Yep, that’s right, Qatar—and Middle Eastern dials in general—are a thing. They became a thing thanks to Middle Eastern sheikhs who were after extra-special gifts to give to friends, family and foreign dignitaries. These rare and now sought-after watches feature dials with the likes of the Qatar Armed Forces’ logo on them which has featured on steel Rolex Air-Kings, or the khanjar dagger which was often seen on watches given away by the former long-reigning Sultan Qaboos of Oman.
