Dyson brings limited edition Supersonic™ hair dryer 23.75 karat gold to the UAE in time for Eid-al-Fitr

Available exclusively at the brand-new Mall of the Emirates demo store, the spectacular hair dryer is designed by James Dyson and gold leafed using a traditional hand-gilding method

The Dyson limited edition Supersonic™ hair dryer 23.75 karat gold has arrived in the UAE just in time for Eid al Fitr, marking the celebration with an outstanding piece of technology that exemplifies engineering as a fine art. A total of 350 pieces will be available exclusively at the brand-new Mall of the Emirates demo store. This spectacular hair dryer is designed by James Dyson and gold leafed using a traditional hand-gilding method, paired with a timeless blue tone.

James Dyson said: "Materials have always been at the heart of Dyson machines, while bold colours accentuate the technology. Gold is one of the most resilient materials in the world. As an element, I'm fascinated by its properties. Like the engineering process we pride ourselves on, gilding is a true example of meticulous craftsmanship."

Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer 23.75 karat gold

Engineered for different hair types, the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer 23.75 karat gold measures air temperature over 40 times a second, preventing heat damage to help protect hair's shine. Dyson's patented Air Multiplier™ technology means that the volume of air coming out of the hair dryer is three times that going into the motor, giving the user the ability of fast drying and styling while reducing the reliance on heat. Powered by the Dyson Digital Motor V9, the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer 23.75 karat gold propels 13 litres of air every second.

Gold leaf gilding

A layer of gold leaf is approximately 333 atoms thick, the equivalent to 1/666th the diameter of human hair. With this in mind, James challenged Dyson engineers to find a way to apply gold leaf to the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer.

The art of gilding was first recorded over 4,000 years ago. Thin leaves and foils of precious metals are applied to a surface, giving it the appearance of solid or inlaid metal. The process of gold leafing has been used to illuminate manuscripts, statues, buildings, sculptors and artwork, but the technique used to apply gold has changed little since its beginnings.

Dyson design engineers and model makers first learned to gild under a master gilder, exploring the process and technique to apply gold leaf to an object. Each layer must be applied by hand on top of a coloured surface. Beneath the gold leaf is a red loop, which is known to give a warm, rich finish. Dyson matched the red found on artwork, sculptures and other artefacts to honour the traditional method of gilding. Like other gold-leafed pieces, the red loop on the product will reveal some of its colour over time, giving each Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer 23.75 karat gold hair dryer a distinctive and unique patina. James Dyson chose the purity of 23.75 karat for its colour, lustre and quality.

During development, the engineers learned that aspects of the gilding process could be aided by technology. Dyson engineers rigged a robotic paint arm to carefully apply an adhesive called 'size' onto the surface of the red loop. The robotic arm ensured the adhesive was repeatedly applied the same each time, thus creating a perfect unblemished layer to gilt on. Once sprayed, two layers of 23.75k gold leaf from Florence, Italy, are applied by hand and carefully brushed to form a smooth and even finish.

Mall of the Emirates Dyson demo store

The new immersive Mall of the Emirates Dyson demo store opened on 28 March and is the first in the region to host a service centre offering repairs within the retail space, along with having the second Beauty Lab location in Dubai, encouraging customers to test and experience Dyson’s latest technology and see first-hand how they work. 

The 216 sq. metre space is a hub of innovation and commitment to technology, displaying Dyson's full portfolio products, as well as special edition ones such as the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer 23.75 karat gold, helping owners discover, explore, and better understand how Dyson technology works. 

The Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer 23.75 karat gold is priced at AED 1,999 available exclusively from the Mall of Emirates Dyson Demo Store until 27 April, and then available in all UAE Direct Offline and Online via Dyson.ae from April 28, until stocks last.