Preserved in virtually new old stock condition, the present reference 6265 is not only an exemplary version of the hallowed Cosmograph, it was also made for the Sultanate of Oman as seen by the Khanjar symbol on the dial, and sold by none other than the world-famous retailer, Asprey.

Watches fitted with custom Middle East dials were often presented as gifts to ambassadors, dignitaries, or staff, as a token of gratitude or respect. It was an honor to be presented a Rolex watch with the state symbol. In fact, many of these watches are cherished by their original owners, and passed down from one generation to the next. As a result, Rolex watches with custom dials hardly appear on the market.

The present example, a Cosmograph with a 5.06 million serial number, is part of an extremely small group of watches delivered specially by Rolex upon order by His Majesty, the Sultan of Oman, and features the coveted "Khanjar" symbol at 12 o'clock in lieu of the traditional “4-Lines” found under the 12 o’clock marker, leaving the famous crown logo alone on top of the Omani mark. The black colour of the emblazoned symbol perfectly complements the sporty yet elegant black sub-dials, making the bicoloured champagne and black dial stand out even more. At the dial’s bottom, towards the 6 o’clock mark, the desirable sigma designations flanking the “T SWISS T” (tritium Lumes) are found, signifying the use of gold for the hour markers. To date, only a handful of these watches in this exact configuration are known, all within a tight serial range. Research shows that Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo sold an identical example withs number 5'060'075 in 2019, and Christie's sold another identical with serial number 5'060'040 in 2023.

The condition of the timepiece is particularly noteworthy. Offered in virtually "new old stock" condition, the watch most probably has never seen any wrist time in its life. Unpolished, the present watch is a study on how any yellow gold reference 6265 looked like when it left the factory. The champagne dial is in excellent condition, with luminous dots along the outer ring, all of which are present and intact. The case is offered in pristine and unpolished condition with thick full lugs and original proportions. Even the caseback retains its original sticker, a marvel in itself.

The cherry on top of the cake is the plethora of accessories accompanying the timepiece. It is accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Asprey SA, two 18K yellow gold Caran d'Ache fountain pens with "Khanjar" symbol, ink cartridge, product literature and Asprey presentation box with Khanjar symbol.

A gold Rolex Cosmograph is a "must have" for many collectors today. Yet, to discover one preserved in virtually new old stock, unpolished condition with an immaculate dial, along with a treasure trove of accessories is positively unheard of. It is a white whale of watch collecting when one comes to the market, and it is with great certainty that another will not appear soon.