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拍品专文
It is indeed a rare occasion when the term ‘Magnificent’ does not do justice to a Rolex Cosmograph. This 18k gold reference 6265 made for Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman is undoubtedly more than magnificent, not only is it in excellent overall condition and still retaining the original Rolex reference sticker on the caseback, but it is also furnished with a sumptuous Asprey Geneva red suede fitted box and accompanied by a pair of specially made Caran D’Ache pens also emblazoned with the Omani Khanjar emblem. Furthermore, it is accompanied by the original punch-numbered Guarantee Certificate and period Rolex Oyster and Rolex Cosmograph booklets.
It is well known that during the period when this extraordinary set was made, all watches made for the Sultan of Oman were sold through the London firm of Asprey in New Bond Street. What is less well known, is that from the mid-1970s, Asprey operated a showroom in Geneva, at 40 Rue du Rhone, opened following the end of the 1973 oil crisis when the spending power of Asprey's Middle Eastern customers visiting Geneva grew exponentially. The present Rolex Cosmograph is one of the very few watches known for certain to have been supplied to the Sultan of Oman by Asprey in Geneva. As the Geneva branch was a showroom only and not a workshop, this watch is not engraved “Asprey” on the caseback nor the serial number engraved inside. Instead, it is presented in a splendid original bespoke red suede fitted box emblazoned on the lid with the crowned Khanjar of Oman, the inside is printed “ASPREY 40,RUE DU RHONE, GENÈVE” in gold lettering. The set is completed by the addition of two golden pens also with applied Khanjar emblems supplied by the prestigious Geneva firm of Caran d’Ache.
The condition of this gold Cosmograph is simply sensational throughout. In order to fully appreciate its crisp, 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 replacing the usual Rolex text.
The Case
Never polished and probably never worn, it remains absolutely pristine and displays full proportions even 45 years after manufacture, this is the closest to ‘new old stock’ that could be hoped for in a gold reference 6265. Crisp and sharp as the day it left the Rolex manufacture, the caseback still retains the original reference 6265 sticker. 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
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 and/or exotic gem-set cases particularly by Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet.
In regard to watches, it was really only Asprey who for generations had direct contact with this kind of exalted client and those clients trusted the company to coordinate their special watch requirements. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s and even into the 80s, outsiders, even the famous watch brands would have had almost no access or opportunity to deal directly with Middle Eastern royalty, Asprey was therefore the main conduit for that very important market.
Reference 6265
Launched in the 1970s, the reference 6265 is the sister reference of the 6263. Inheriting attributes of reference 6240, the standard version chronograph bears the “Oyster” designation on the upper-half of its dial and is built with screw-down pushers, a screw back and screw-down crown. Manufactured over a period of approximately 17 years, gold examples of the reference were produced in small volume, estimated at approximately 10% of the overall production and were made in 14K as well as 18K gold. The 6265 chronograph was made with a slightly wider case, giving the wristwatch a more athletic feel than earlier references. Produced from 1971 right up to 1988, it represents the last of the manual-winding Daytona models.
It is well known that during the period when this extraordinary set was made, all watches made for the Sultan of Oman were sold through the London firm of Asprey in New Bond Street. What is less well known, is that from the mid-1970s, Asprey operated a showroom in Geneva, at 40 Rue du Rhone, opened following the end of the 1973 oil crisis when the spending power of Asprey's Middle Eastern customers visiting Geneva grew exponentially. The present Rolex Cosmograph is one of the very few watches known for certain to have been supplied to the Sultan of Oman by Asprey in Geneva. As the Geneva branch was a showroom only and not a workshop, this watch is not engraved “Asprey” on the caseback nor the serial number engraved inside. Instead, it is presented in a splendid original bespoke red suede fitted box emblazoned on the lid with the crowned Khanjar of Oman, the inside is printed “ASPREY 40,RUE DU RHONE, GENÈVE” in gold lettering. The set is completed by the addition of two golden pens also with applied Khanjar emblems supplied by the prestigious Geneva firm of Caran d’Ache.
The condition of this gold Cosmograph is simply sensational throughout. In order to fully appreciate its crisp, 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 replacing the usual Rolex text.
The Case
Never polished and probably never worn, it remains absolutely pristine and displays full proportions even 45 years after manufacture, this is the closest to ‘new old stock’ that could be hoped for in a gold reference 6265. Crisp and sharp as the day it left the Rolex manufacture, the caseback still retains the original reference 6265 sticker. 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
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 and/or exotic gem-set cases particularly by Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet.
In regard to watches, it was really only Asprey who for generations had direct contact with this kind of exalted client and those clients trusted the company to coordinate their special watch requirements. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s and even into the 80s, outsiders, even the famous watch brands would have had almost no access or opportunity to deal directly with Middle Eastern royalty, Asprey was therefore the main conduit for that very important market.
Reference 6265
Launched in the 1970s, the reference 6265 is the sister reference of the 6263. Inheriting attributes of reference 6240, the standard version chronograph bears the “Oyster” designation on the upper-half of its dial and is built with screw-down pushers, a screw back and screw-down crown. Manufactured over a period of approximately 17 years, gold examples of the reference were produced in small volume, estimated at approximately 10% of the overall production and were made in 14K as well as 18K gold. The 6265 chronograph was made with a slightly wider case, giving the wristwatch a more athletic feel than earlier references. Produced from 1971 right up to 1988, it represents the last of the manual-winding Daytona models.