ArtyA wows Dubai Watch Week 2025 with a world-first four-colour sapphire diver
Tom Austin- Sapphire-sculpting artisans ArtyA have taken the wraps off a pair of extra special full-sapphire dive watches for Dubai Watch Week 2025.
- Based on the Aquasaphir diver, the collection features solid sapphire cases with a water resistance of 60 meters.
- Comprising two watches, the first is a 10-piece limited edition sculpted from green sapphire, and the other is a unique piece, featuring a Quadricolor NanoSapphire bezel in the colours of the Emirati flag.
Who says a diver has to be made from the finest grade stainless steel or space-age titanium? Well, if your name is ArtyA, then you’d say it most certainly does not. ArtyA is widely known by now as one of the finest purveyors of artisanal full-sapphire wristwatches you can find, and their Aquasaphir is proof that you can indeed dive in a full sapphire watch.
Ok, first of all, let’s be clear, the Aquasaphir isn’t going to be beating James Cameron with his Deepsea Challenge to the Mariana Trench any time soon. But its 60-meter water resistance, in full sapphire, is not to be scoffed at, because sapphire is notoriously challenging to work with, let alone craft into a fully water-resistant watch case. Yet ArtyA has just managed to do something even more difficult, presenting a world first: a solid single piece of sapphire in four different colours.
Announced at 2025’s Dubai Watch Week, and to celebrate the brand’s connection with retailer Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Artya unveiled its latest Aquasaphir collection, comprising two watches. Of course, both feature 41mm solid sapphire cases, but the first model, a limited edition of 10, has an entirely emerald-green case, including the case back. The other, a piece-unique, uses a deep black sapphire case, predominantly because its standout feature is the solid sapphire bezel, finished in green, red, black and white – the colours of the Emirati flag.
While purists would argue that even with 60m of water resistance, it’s no dive watch, it’s fair to say that most humans wouldn’t normally venture much deeper than 30 meters at best, so the Aquasaphir certainly proves its worth in the swimming department. The case design has all the hallmarks of a diver too: the chunky feel, the crownguards, the timing bezel, all lend the watch a functional and (dare I say it) a unique look, when you consider most sapphire watches from ArtyA look like something from outer space.
Both watches are equipped with the same functional yet stunning dive-watch-style dial. Finished in a starry-like aventurine, the natural stone surface is glittered with shiny specs that catch the light at every angle. They feature the traditional dive watch trait of different combinations of applied hour markers filled with Super LumiNova, making legibility pretty solid for such an aesthetically focused watch. Lastly, the dials are finished with an UAE flag at six o’clock, accompanied by an Arabic inscription reading “Limited Edition, Dubai Edition”.
Powering the two special editions is the automatic G100 calibre from Swiss manufacturer La Joux Perret. It’s a fine, custom-decorated 3-handed movement, featuring a healthy 68-hour power reserve while beating at 28,800 vph, and offers strong reliability and accuracy. The G100 is a proven calibre that won’t let you down, and in this model, ArtyA has turned to its in-house watchmakers to add bespoke decorations, such as the custom ArtyA rotor. It’s one thing to have a sapphire exhibition caseback, but it’s something else to be able to see the entire movement from all angles through the case itself.
Nevertheless, wearing that sapphire case of the Aquasaphir is still an event, in either form, and this is further accentuated by the high-quality rubber strap that it’s paired with. It comes in black and is finished with an ArtyA pin buckle, which can be optionally finished with a black PVD coating. I would probably be more comfortable with the security of a quality folding clasp, but at least it ties in with the rest of ArtyA’s range.
ArtyA Aquasaphir Dubai Edition pricing & availability
The ArtyA Aquasaphir Dubai Edition collection is available from ArtyA retailers, including Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. The Emerald Green model is limited to 10 pieces, while the Quadricolor version is a unique piece. Price: US$67,200 (Emerald Green), US$100,500 (Quadricolor)
| Brand | ArtyA Geneve |
| Model | Aquasaphir Dubai Edition |
| Reference | AS-DWW25-01 (Quadricolor) AS-DWW25-02 (Emerald Green) |
| Case Dimensions | 41mm (D) x 12.8mm (T) |
| Case Material | Sapphire crystal |
| Water Resistance | 60 meters |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Aventurine with UAE flag detail |
| Strap | Black rubber with ArtyA pin buckle |
| Movement | La Joux Perret G100, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 68 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, undirectional diving bezel |
| Availability | Emerald Green Edition limited to 10 pieces, Quadricolor edition is a piece unique |
| Price | US$67,200 (Emerald Green) US$100,500 (Quadricolor) |