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Lot Essay
A new and important discovery, this incredible Asprey-retailed ‘Red Khanjar’ reference 6265 is, to the best of our knowledge, fresh to the market and one of only approximately five examples known publicly with the khanjar emblem printed in red. Dating from 1974, it is also an early example of a Cosmograph made for the Sultan of Oman. Indeed, it is a rare occasion when any Rolex Cosmograph made for Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman is offered at auction and this 18k gold reference 6265 with ‘Red Khanjar’ is undoubtedly one of the rarest of all. Its honest and original overall ‘private collection’ condition, showing the signs of regular use over the last almost 50 years, yet retaining crispness of detail and a superbly preserved dial, only serves to enhance the appeal of its untouched original magic.
The condition of this gold Cosmograph has a refreshing honesty that is seldom seen. In order to fully appreciate its largely untouched state of preservation, it is rewarding to study in more detail:
The Dial
Completely without any surface blemish, the gold sunray effect creates a rich sheen as the light plays across its surface, this is perfectly contrasted by the matt black subsidiaries with gilt numerals. In the upper half of the dial is the Khanjar emblem in red replacing the usual Rolex text.
The Case
Probably never polished, it has evidently been much used and enjoyed by its original owner and displays the scratches and blemishes that would be expected after almost 50 years of use. However, it retains full proportions, the ASPREY signature is still legible on the caseback and the hallmarks on the back of the lugs and both the reference and serial number engravings are pin-sharp as are the faceted edges of the crown, the chronograph pushers and the bezel calibrated to 200 units.
Asprey
It is well known that during the period when this Daytona was made, all watches made for the Sultan of Oman were sold through the London firm of Asprey in New Bond Street.
During the early years of the 1970s there were no official watch agents in Oman and so almost all of the watches made by various brands were supplied through the ultra high-end retailer Asprey in London and very occasionally through their Geneva branch. Located since 1847 at 167, New Bond Street, the Asprey name has become particularly synonymous with watches supplied to Middle Eastern royalty with special emblem dials.
The condition of this gold Cosmograph has a refreshing honesty that is seldom seen. In order to fully appreciate its largely untouched state of preservation, it is rewarding to study in more detail:
The Dial
Completely without any surface blemish, the gold sunray effect creates a rich sheen as the light plays across its surface, this is perfectly contrasted by the matt black subsidiaries with gilt numerals. In the upper half of the dial is the Khanjar emblem in red replacing the usual Rolex text.
The Case
Probably never polished, it has evidently been much used and enjoyed by its original owner and displays the scratches and blemishes that would be expected after almost 50 years of use. However, it retains full proportions, the ASPREY signature is still legible on the caseback and the hallmarks on the back of the lugs and both the reference and serial number engravings are pin-sharp as are the faceted edges of the crown, the chronograph pushers and the bezel calibrated to 200 units.
Asprey
It is well known that during the period when this Daytona was made, all watches made for the Sultan of Oman were sold through the London firm of Asprey in New Bond Street.
During the early years of the 1970s there were no official watch agents in Oman and so almost all of the watches made by various brands were supplied through the ultra high-end retailer Asprey in London and very occasionally through their Geneva branch. Located since 1847 at 167, New Bond Street, the Asprey name has become particularly synonymous with watches supplied to Middle Eastern royalty with special emblem dials.