133
Rolex
Ref. 1807 inside caseback stamped with repeated case number 3'691'737
Day-Date
A highly rare yellow gold calendar wristwatch with "Pie-Pan Khanjar" dial, made for the Sultanate of Oman and retailed by Asprey
- Estimate
- CHF20,000 - 30,000€18,500 - 27,800$19,800 - 29,700
CHF40,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1973
- Reference No
- 1807 inside caseback stamped with repeated case number 3'691'737
- Movement No
- DD827907
- Case No
- 3'691'737
- Model Name
- Day-Date
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1556, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Gold plated Rolex buckle
- Dimensions
- 36mm. Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial and movement singed, case further engraved Asprey
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The present watch is an outstanding Day-Date for a number of reasons. Most notably, the watch is fitted with a "Khanjar" dial, featuring the Khanjar symbol, a part of the national emblem of Oman. Watches fitted with "Khanjar" dials were made on special request from His Majesty Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the Sultan of Oman, and presented as gifts to his closest dignitaries and servants.
The dial is furthermore designed with a "Pie-Pan" configuration, which was used predominantly in the 1970s. The dial is signed "T Swiss T", which is correct for the serial number and for a "pie-pan" dial. The silvery grey contrasts sharply with the yellow Khanjar symbol, giving the watch an eye-catching appearance.
All other details are correct. The case back is engraved Asprey as the Sultan's watches were often ordered through the retailer. The Asprey engraving remains clear, crisp and legible, which is incredibly rare as most engravings have been worn off over time due to general wear and light polishing.
Equally impressive is the case, featuring an attractive "bark finish" to the bezel, adding another element of delight. The case number is furthermore repeated on the inside case back, signifying the present watch was made upon special order from Rolex.
Such rare and historically interesting watches hardly appear on the market, no less in such complete, original and attractive condition.
The dial is furthermore designed with a "Pie-Pan" configuration, which was used predominantly in the 1970s. The dial is signed "T Swiss T", which is correct for the serial number and for a "pie-pan" dial. The silvery grey contrasts sharply with the yellow Khanjar symbol, giving the watch an eye-catching appearance.
All other details are correct. The case back is engraved Asprey as the Sultan's watches were often ordered through the retailer. The Asprey engraving remains clear, crisp and legible, which is incredibly rare as most engravings have been worn off over time due to general wear and light polishing.
Equally impressive is the case, featuring an attractive "bark finish" to the bezel, adding another element of delight. The case number is furthermore repeated on the inside case back, signifying the present watch was made upon special order from Rolex.
Such rare and historically interesting watches hardly appear on the market, no less in such complete, original and attractive condition.
Literature
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
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