Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: FIVE Geneva Friday, May 12, 2017 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: circa 1974
    Reference No: 6265
    Case No: 3'751'994
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona "Qaboos"
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 727, 17 jewels.
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex riveted Oyster bracelet, end links stamped 71, max length 210mm.
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex folding deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 37.5mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    Boldly emblazoned in the upper center of the dial of this stunning 18k yellow gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is the red signature of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Saided of Oman. When found anywhere on a watch, it signifies an important object of royal provenance. Such watches were made on commission for the Sultan of Oman, an important collector in his own right. His Majesty’s passion for horology is well known.

    Born in 1940 and ascending to the throne at age 30 following studies under the former President of India and military training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst England, his reign has been one of great success. With revenues received from oil sales, he drove transformational advances in healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

    Given as gifts to foreign dignitaries and loyal staff, watches with the Qaboos signature are extremely sought after. Extensive research shows that only one example of reference 6265 in yellow gold with the red Qaboos signature is known to scholars: the present one, making it a true grail for collectors.

    According to scholarship, the tradition of gifting watches by His Majesty began following his defeat of the Dhofar Rebellion working in partnership with the British government. As an expression of his gratitude to the teams of Britain’s elite Special Forces branch, the SAS, he presented watches to the soldiers who were instrumental in defeating the rebellion.

    Timepieces gifted by His Majesty had different signatures on the dial. Scholarship and research has led us to believe that watches bearing the "Khanjar", the emblem of the Sultanate of Oman, on the dial were gifted to dignitaries or government officials via representatives of His Majesty, but timepieces bearing the Qaboos signature were handed directly by His Majesty and as such destined to heads of state and extremely high ranking officials.

    The “Rolex Oyster” logo at 12 o’clock was repositioned higher on the dial to accommodate the Qaboos signature, demonstrating that this dial was custom designed for His Majesty. The superb champagne dial with chronograph subcounters that have aged to a surprising and visually attractive aubergine further enhances the beauty of the red Qaboos signature. At the dial’s bottom edge at six o’clock the desirable sigma designations flanking “T SWISS T” are found, signifying the use of gold for the hour markers and hands.

    The serial number is repeated inside the caseback, a typical feature found in military watches, issued diver watches and of course timepieces made for the Royal family of Oman.

    Its royal provenance, spectacular condition, and uniqueness make it one of the most exciting and important Rolex sport watches.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded 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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Ref. 6265
A possibly unique, attractive and important yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with champagne dial and bracelet, specially made for the Sultanate of Oman

circa 1974
37.5mm. Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF200,000 - 400,000 
€185,000-371,000
$198,000-396,000

Sold for CHF286,000

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89

The Geneva Watch Auction: FIVE

Geneva Auctions 13 – 14 May 2017