Introducing Maghnam Form 5 NOOR Takes Watch Design to New Heights

In recent years, microbrands have been making waves, standing out for their fearless creativity. Unlike some of the larger, more established names that often play it safe, these smaller brands push their boundaries, taking risks with design and innovation. While they may not yet be household names, they’ve left their mark with unique creations that have captured the attention of watch enthusiasts.

One of the promising voices in this field is Sohaib Maghnam, a passionate engineer who turned his love for cars and deep curiosity about watches into a career, launching MAGHNAM in 2020. Though his brand is still in its early days, it’s already gaining recognition. Today, we’re taking a look at the brand's latest creation, the FORM 5: NOOR, a new limited edition inspired by automobiles, particularly the nostalgic appeal of "pop-up headlights," an iconic feature of cars from the latter half of the 20th century.

“Back in 2020, I came across a compilation video showing pop-up headlights in many beloved cars, a Countach, a Testarossa, and a 928 among others. I was immediately struck with the thought of a pop-up watch, and how fantastic it would be to reveal the time with the push of a button! but I had no plans of beginning development on that anytime soon. I did, however, share the video as I found it to be beautiful, not alluding to any intentions of working with that concept. Not 15 minutes later, I was struck yet again when I found that my father had commented on the video telling me how amazing it would be If I could turn that into a wristwatch. Safe to say, the deal was sealed!” – Sohaib Maghnam

MAGHNAM focused on ensuring a slim and comfortable fit for the wrist, even with the Noor's transformative design. The watch features a case made from a combination of steel and grade-5 titanium, weighing just 42 grams, with a blend of sandblasted and polished surfaces for a refined look. It is available in two color options: “Raw” titanium and “Warm Gold” PVD titanium. Its dimensions measure 49 x 33 x 10 mm when closed and 49 x 33 x 32 mm when open.

A pusher at the front of the watch activates two spring-loaded mechanisms, elevating the entire watch capsule vertically to reveal the hours and minutes. The Noor displays the time through an opening in the titanium dial, which hovers above the indicators rather than sitting beneath them. This opening reveals a sweeping sapphire disc for the hours, accompanied by a rotating Maghnam emblem that indicates the minutes.

The watch is powered by the MCF5-01 caliber, a reimagined version of the LJP D101 manual-wind movement. It provides a 50-hour power reserve and operates at 21,600 vph (3 Hz). The movement has been modified in two key ways. First, the wheels and pinions were shortened to fit the time display within a capsule measuring just 5.5 mm in height. Second, the movement was refinished to meet Maghnam’s high standards, featuring decorations such as Côtes de Genève, anglage, cerclage, sandblasting,, and various coatings and hand-applied finishes.

The watch comes with a black leather strap and is limited to 50 pieces, priced at CHF 8,700, equivalent to AED 37,250.

For more information you can visit Maghnam’s official website.