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 watch features a 'Khanjar' dial, displaying the ‘Khanjar’ symbol, 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.
Research suggests that His Majesty Al Said commissioned Rolex to create special Sea-Dwellers in the 1970s. These were presented to members of Britain’s elite Special Forces branch, the SAS, as a token of gratitude for defeating the Dhofar Rebellion. The Sea-Dwellers were either fitted with a gold Khanjar, a red Qaboos signature, or a red Khanjar, such as the present watch.
Most importantly, the watches were ordered through Asprey, and it is imperative that these watches bear the retailer's logo engraved in the case back. Most of these watches bear a serial range of 3'566'xxx. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo had the pleasure of selling another example only four digits away with serial number 3'566'944 in Rolex Milestones: 38 Legendary Watches That Shaped History in the Hong Kong Auction 28 November 2016.
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.