By all accounts, expectations have once again been exceeded, with both exhibitors and visitors arriving in their droves from around the world to witness the latest trends in the world of luxury watches and jewellery. During my visit I’ll be speaking to some of the biggest hitters from across the industry, as well as perusing the latest beautiful, elegant timepieces.

Word on the street is that ‘big’ is out and ‘small’ is in. The global economic downturn has persuaded many watch-makers to move towards minimalism and inconspicuous consumption, rather than the bold, brash designs that we had come to expect in recent years. Let’s see what awaits me tomorrow.

Elsewhere we report on a new and exciting addition to the luxury footwear stable, with the Darmaki brand making serious waves as a creator of beautiful women’s shoes. That its founder, the young designer Sultan Al Darmaki, is of Emirati origin is significant in itself: as the designer himself has commented, the UAE has for too long been a desert for sartorial creativity, and by breaking the mould he will hopefully give other budding designers from the region the impetus to break through.

Also featured this week from the world of luxury and lifestyle is the much-anticipated production launch of the Porsche Spyder 918, the unveiling of a stunning pair of limited edition headphones, and two lavish new holiday properties in Istanbul and Rhode Island. Enjoy!

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