882
Rolex
Ref. 18038
Day-Date
A very rare and well-preserved yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, wood “Khanjar” dial and guarantee, made for the Sultanate of Oman
- Estimate
- HK$160,000 - 300,000€18,200 - 34,200$20,500 - 38,500
HK$203,200
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1979
- Reference No
- 18038
- Movement No
- 0'161'738
- Case No
- 5'729'435
- Model Name
- Day-Date
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Gold-plated unsigned pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 36mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial and movement signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by blank Rolex punched Garantie.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The passion for watches is exemplified by His Majesty Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the Sultan of Oman, whose emblem can be found in numerous collections from some of the world's finest watchmakers. During the 1970s, His Majesty commissioned various manufacturers to create custom pieces, many adorned with the "Qaboos" or "Khanjar" symbols, including notable models from Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex.
Rolex is particularly renowned for crafting such special pieces, and the present watch is a rare Day-Date reference 18038 featuring a black "Khanjar" emblem at the 6 o’clock position. It is exceptionally uncommon for the emblem to appear on a hardstone or wood dial, making this piece especially noteworthy. Another example with a green “Khanjar” is referenced in “Day-Date: The Presidential Rolex” by Pucci Papaleo.
The watch boasts bold and full proportions, with sharp lugs and case edges, and the hallmarks remain crisp and well-defined. Additionally, the original Rolex sticker is still present on the caseback, indicating minimal intervention throughout its lifespan. The inclusion of the punched Rolex Garantie further enhances the appeal and collectability of this remarkable timepiece.
Rolex is particularly renowned for crafting such special pieces, and the present watch is a rare Day-Date reference 18038 featuring a black "Khanjar" emblem at the 6 o’clock position. It is exceptionally uncommon for the emblem to appear on a hardstone or wood dial, making this piece especially noteworthy. Another example with a green “Khanjar” is referenced in “Day-Date: The Presidential Rolex” by Pucci Papaleo.
The watch boasts bold and full proportions, with sharp lugs and case edges, and the hallmarks remain crisp and well-defined. Additionally, the original Rolex sticker is still present on the caseback, indicating minimal intervention throughout its lifespan. The inclusion of the punched Rolex Garantie further enhances the appeal and collectability of this remarkable timepiece.
Provenance
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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