The 6263 S/S ‘Arabian Night’

ROLEX. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET AND BOX, ESPECIALLY MADE FOR SULTAN QABOOS BIN SAID AL SAID AND RETAILED BY ASPREY

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER COSMOGRAPH, REF. 6263, CASE NO. 3’655’344, MANUFACTURED IN 1974 AND SOLD BY ASPREY TO OMAN

Cal. 727 mechanical lever movement, 17 jewels, black dial, applied silvered baton numerals with luminous accents, Sultan’s signature in red, luminous hands, three subsidiary silvered engine-turned dials for constant seconds, 30 minutes and 12 hours registers, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, black bezel calibrated for 200 units per hour, screw back and screw down crown, two round screw down chronograph buttons in the band, stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet and clasp stamped 1.71, case signed by maker and retailer, dial and movement signed.

With Rolex original fitted green presentation box decorated on the top with the Oman national emblem consisting of two crossed swords and the khanjar, a traditional Oman dagger, in the middle. On the inside lid of the box is a green panel with gilt writing, which reads: By Appointment. To H.M. Qaboos Bin Said. Asprey & Company Ltd. Furthermore delivered with a personal card from His Majesty in a small envelope stamped with the Khanjar.

A man of undeniably exquisite taste and also a watch enthusiast, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, owned and offered as gifts innumerable timepieces. Some of these, blessed with never-beforeseen personalisations of the dial, simply made modern horology history as symbols of the ultimate level of watch collecting.

His Majesty sometimes offers gifts for outstanding service to loyal servants, members of the administration and citizens.

Depending on the level and importance of the occasion, gifts of an “horological nature” vary from simple timepieces to fine Rolex watches. The highest level of recognition is, for obvious reasons, a Rolex Daytona. The present watch must have been awarded to a high-ranking dignitary. Furthermore, the degree of personalisation indicates the level of appreciation the Sultan wishes to demonstrate to the recipient. A simple merit deserves the Crest of Oman (Khanjar) on the dial or the back of the timepiece, while extraordinary appreciation is expressed with a watch featuring His Majesty’s signature (as shown here).

It comes as no surprise that a gift of such magnitude, offered by none other than the Sultan himself, was always considered the ultimate trophy and was never actually worn. The result is the extraordinary timepiece offered here. This watch is simply new, perfect in each and every detail, such as the red signature of His Majesty on the dial, and the designations reserved for special orders. A true “Arabian Pearl”.

Courtesy of Christie's

50 EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLES OF THE WORLD’S MOST CELEBRATED CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH AUCTION

GENEVA – 10 NOVEMBER 2013

LOT 26
ESTIMATE PRICE: SFr.300,000-600,000
PRICE REALIZED: SF.785,000

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