Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XV Hong Kong Monday, November 28, 2022 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1983
    Reference No: 16750
    Movement No: 1’048’686
    Case No: 7’622’733
    Model Name: GMT-Master, “Royal Omani Police Force”
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3075, 27 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “78360”, endlinks stamped “580”, max length 180mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “78360” and “G”
    Dimensions: 40mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp

  • Catalogue Essay

    A curved dagger on a belt topped with two crossed swords. The “Khanjar” crest has almost become epochal in the world of watch collecting. It is not every day that we come across a vintage Rolex enthroned with this symbol, let alone an example featuring an insignia of a “crown” above the “Khanjar” complete with a “laurel wreath”. Imprinted in white, this golden trinity is indeed the emblem of the Sultanate Police Coat of Arms.

    Watches commissioned by the Sultan of Oman are revered and respected by enthusiasts all over the world. These made-to-order timepieces have witnessed some of the most important examples achieving paramount figures at auction. This is perhaps due to the heritage behind these exceedingly rare pieces and the sacred meaning behind them. A watch advocate himself, his Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Saided contracted Rolex to create watches with custom dials as gifted tokens of appreciation from the Sultanate to foreign dignitaries and his loyal subjects. In this case, variants with the Royal Omani Police Force symbol are by far the most uncommon of its kind as they were only given to serving members of the police force.

    While most Rolexes with Omani dials that have resurfaced in recent years feature the “Khanjar” symbol in different colours, examples flaunting the Royal Oman Police Force coat of arms are nearly impossible to find. According to our research and believed by scholars, examples blessed with this extraordinary emblem were only commissioned on the Submariner ref. 16800 and GMT-Master ref. 16750.

    Extremely rare, it is believed that there are only five known examples, excluding the present timepiece, of the Rolex GMT-Master ref. 16750 bearing the crest of the Sultanate Police, each bearing a 7.625 million serial and manufactured in the same batch. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that these examples were produced in absence of their serial numbers repeatedly stamped inside the caseback.

    The present Rolex GMT-Master ref. 16750 is from circa 1983, bearing a 7.622 million serial, suggesting that this is perhaps the earliest sample with the printed white emblem of the Royal Oman Police Force that has resurfaced to the market. Specifically stamped in white as a colour-coded memorandum, it represents “Peace” and “Prosperity”. Launched in 1981, the ref. 16750 replaced the long-lived ref. 1675 with the introduction of a practical quick-set date feature, with early specimens of the reference featuring a matte dial then later examples from circa 1986 fitted with glossy dials. Regarded as a transitional model, the ref. 16750 was discontinued just seven years later and was succeeded by the ref. 16700 in 1988.

    Fresh to the market, Phillips is proud to present the sixth known example of the ref. 16750 with a Sultanate Police Coat of Arms dial. The present wristwatch is offered in excellent overall condition with a well-preserved dial, framed by a red and blue “Pepsi” bezel. Combining its rarity, condition and desirable features, this Royal Oman Police Force GMT-Master is, no doubt, a sight to behold, destined to captivate collectors and admirers of vintage Rolex treasures.

  • 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.

    View More Works

1005

Ref. 16750
An extremely rare, impressive and attractive stainless steel dual-time wristwatch with center seconds, date and bracelet, made for the Royal Oman Police Force

Circa 1983
40mm diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp

Estimate
HK$1,000,000 - 1,500,000 
€119,000-178,000
$128,000-192,000

Sold for HK$1,260,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XV

28 - 29 November 2022 (Online Registration ends 27 Nov, 2pm HKT)