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Lot Essay
With Rolex International Guarantee card dated 1 April 2012, tag, seal, product literature, Rolex original fitted green presentation box and outer packaging with the national emblem of the Sultanate of Oman.
Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, at the age of 20, enters the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst, in Surrey, England. He will later serve with the Scottish Rifles in Germany (for a full biography of His Majesty, see Lot 26). Allegedly, once ascended to the throne in 1970, the SAS and the Royal Air Force, grateful for His services in Germany, helped Him to consolidate His rule and quench the Omani internal struggles that were plaguing the country at the time.
It would appear that this is when His Majesty's habit of personalising watches began. He thanked the English officers who helped him by giving them a small series of professional watches. As of the 1970s this tradition continued. While we can safely assume that most of the "Qaboos" watches are in the possession of the Sultan, a very small number left His collection as gifts to friends or dignitaries. Some of these timepieces, with unique personalisations on the dial, made horology history. One example is "The Arabian night", a steel Daytona reference 6263 with the Sultan's signature in red on the dial (Lot 26 of the present auction).
Another recurring personalisation is the Crest of Oman; two crossed swords and a dagger. This is known as the Khanjar, taken from the name of the traditional Omani dagger.
Collectors know that the Khanjar, previously found on some exceedingly rare dials, made its appearance on the case back in the 1980s on a few rare examples of reference 6270 and reference 6269, obviously special orders requested by the Sultan.
History repeats itself with the present watch. A spectacular twin of the previous lot, this steel 116520 with black dial, has the Khanjar inscribed on its case back. One of the latest examples of what is now one of the traditions most loved by collectors.
In addition to its technical, aesthetic and collectible appeal, the lure of this watch is further enhanced by its mint conditions. As with the previous lot, the sales kit provided with this timepiece confirms it was sold in Muscat, Oman on 1st April 2012. His Majesty is most definitely not the kind of person to buy individual watches. In addition, the outer protective cover of the box features the Khanjar in mint green.
Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, at the age of 20, enters the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst, in Surrey, England. He will later serve with the Scottish Rifles in Germany (for a full biography of His Majesty, see Lot 26). Allegedly, once ascended to the throne in 1970, the SAS and the Royal Air Force, grateful for His services in Germany, helped Him to consolidate His rule and quench the Omani internal struggles that were plaguing the country at the time.
It would appear that this is when His Majesty's habit of personalising watches began. He thanked the English officers who helped him by giving them a small series of professional watches. As of the 1970s this tradition continued. While we can safely assume that most of the "Qaboos" watches are in the possession of the Sultan, a very small number left His collection as gifts to friends or dignitaries. Some of these timepieces, with unique personalisations on the dial, made horology history. One example is "The Arabian night", a steel Daytona reference 6263 with the Sultan's signature in red on the dial (Lot 26 of the present auction).
Another recurring personalisation is the Crest of Oman; two crossed swords and a dagger. This is known as the Khanjar, taken from the name of the traditional Omani dagger.
Collectors know that the Khanjar, previously found on some exceedingly rare dials, made its appearance on the case back in the 1980s on a few rare examples of reference 6270 and reference 6269, obviously special orders requested by the Sultan.
History repeats itself with the present watch. A spectacular twin of the previous lot, this steel 116520 with black dial, has the Khanjar inscribed on its case back. One of the latest examples of what is now one of the traditions most loved by collectors.
In addition to its technical, aesthetic and collectible appeal, the lure of this watch is further enhanced by its mint conditions. As with the previous lot, the sales kit provided with this timepiece confirms it was sold in Muscat, Oman on 1st April 2012. His Majesty is most definitely not the kind of person to buy individual watches. In addition, the outer protective cover of the box features the Khanjar in mint green.