51
Rolex
Ref. 1802 inside caseback stamped with serial number 3'873'774
Day-Date "Khanjar"
A highly rare and attractive platinum and diamond-set calendar wristwatch with bracelet, made for the Sultanate of Oman and retailed by Asprey
- Estimate
- CHF70,000 - 140,000€71,600 - 143,000$76,500 - 153,000
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1975
- Reference No
- 1802 inside caseback stamped with serial number 3'873'774
- Movement No
- DD714747
- Case No
- 3'873'774
- Model Name
- Day-Date "Khanjar"
- Material
- Platinum
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1556, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Platinum Rolex President bracelet, max length 180mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Platinum Rolex deployant clasp
- Dimensions
- 36mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed, outside caseback stamped Asprey
Catalogue Essay
While the ref. 1800 series of Day-Dates were encased in a variety of metals, the present example ref. 1802 featuring a smooth bezel is encased in the highly rare and precious platinum 36mm diameter Oyster case. Most interestingly, the diamond markers are slightly larger than the standard production pieces.
The case back is engraved Asprey as the Sultan's early Rolex timepieces were only available at the London-based 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. Once the case back is opened, the case number is repeated inside the case back indicating that the watch was a special order made upon request from Rolex.
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.