.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present ref. 1803 is an extremely rare example of a Rolex Day-Date model with red lacquer dial. It is believed to have been made to commemorate the independence of Abu Dhabi in 1971, featuring the name of His Highness Sheik Mohammad Ben Zayed Al Nahyyan to the lower half in both Arabic and Western writing.
Rare gems in the world of vintage timepieces, Rolex wristwatches with personalized dials always attract the passions of the most astute collectors. Made in exceedingly small numbers, dials featuring royal emblems or coat of arms were usually manufactured for the most important clients of Rolex, with the example of Middle-Eastern countries including the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain or Saudi-Arabia. Usually presented by the government as gifts to dignitaries as token of appreciation and respect, watches displaying such rarified dials have become throughout the year’s grail watches rarely appearing at auction.
Of particular interest, the so-called “Stella” dial, defined by its elaborate appearance of enamel, featuring instead of the usual “Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified” inscription to the lower half of the dial, the name of His Highness Sheik Mohammad Ben Zayed Al Nahyyan. Unusual for personalized wristwatches of Rolex is the fact that the inscription was accomplished by Arabic and Latin lettering. A closer look reveals the spelling “Mohamad Ben Zayed Al Nahyyan" instead of “Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan " as normally used. Comparable Day-Date watches with the same lettering are known only with the present spelling.
Sheikh Mohamad Ben Zayed Al Nahyyan (born 11 March 1961) is the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi since November 2004, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council since 2004 and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE's Armed Forces since January 2005.
Rare gems in the world of vintage timepieces, Rolex wristwatches with personalized dials always attract the passions of the most astute collectors. Made in exceedingly small numbers, dials featuring royal emblems or coat of arms were usually manufactured for the most important clients of Rolex, with the example of Middle-Eastern countries including the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain or Saudi-Arabia. Usually presented by the government as gifts to dignitaries as token of appreciation and respect, watches displaying such rarified dials have become throughout the year’s grail watches rarely appearing at auction.
Of particular interest, the so-called “Stella” dial, defined by its elaborate appearance of enamel, featuring instead of the usual “Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified” inscription to the lower half of the dial, the name of His Highness Sheik Mohammad Ben Zayed Al Nahyyan. Unusual for personalized wristwatches of Rolex is the fact that the inscription was accomplished by Arabic and Latin lettering. A closer look reveals the spelling “Mohamad Ben Zayed Al Nahyyan" instead of “Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan " as normally used. Comparable Day-Date watches with the same lettering are known only with the present spelling.
Sheikh Mohamad Ben Zayed Al Nahyyan (born 11 March 1961) is the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi since November 2004, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council since 2004 and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE's Armed Forces since January 2005.