ROLEX | 'KHANJAR NO. 9' DAY-DATE, REF 1831PLATINUM AND DIAMOND-SET WRISTWATCH WITH DAY AND DATE MADE FOR THE SULTANATE OF OMANCIRCA 1977

Dial: silvered sunburst Khanjar, diamond-set indexes Calibre: cal. 1556 automatic, 26 jewels Movement number: DD'336'518 Case: platinum and diamond-set 'Oysterquartz' case, screw-down crown and back Case number: 5'086'936 Dimensions: 40mm Signed: case, dial and movement Accessories: none

MVT. Running at the time of cataloguing. The day and date are advancing. Case: In very crisp and original condition. The bevels to the edges of the case are very sharp and well defined. The case with light surface wear that case be seen with the naked eye. All case back engravings and hallmarks are very crisp to the back of the case. The case back with original factory sticker. All diamonds are intact to the bezel. The family of this watch removed the bracelet many years ago. In order to fit a strap, steel extensions have been made and attached to the end of each lug and are not original to the watch. Dial. In attractive original condition. The dial is lightly tarnished. All lumes are intact and react under UV.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

Rarity is a very valuable feature in any wristwatch, and this is especially so when it comes to vintage Rolex. However given the nature and scale of Rolex production (a production that today constitutes around a million watches a year), rarity in this instance still usually refers to the manufacture of pieces numbering thousands.   To find a Rolex, then, that may have been limited to just as few as nine pieces is particularly noteworthy and incredibly desirable. The watch in question; a Rolex Day-Date automatic reference 1831 with Khanjar dial and housed within a solid platinum case. Interestingly the case is not the standard Day-Date Oyster, but in fact shares the same design as the automatic 1530, 1630 and Oysterquartz references.  These watches are known, and indeed have appeared at auction in the past achieving fantastic results.  However at this time, all known examples being individually numbered on the case back, it was suggested that these were in fact limited to only 8 pieces. The present lot however, its case number serially coinciding with its predecessors, is individually numbered No. 9 - in the same manner as the previously known examples.

This example may also represent a departure from current understanding that the series was produced by Rolex at the request of the Shah of Iran.  These watches, one through eight, feature stellar dials; so how, then, does the watch above come to bear the emblem of the Sultanate of Oman? This is a question particularly difficult to answer and perhaps may remain a mystery.  However through the current owner Sotheby’s has learnt that the watch may have been gifted in the late 70s by Sultan Qaboos bin Saïd of Oman to the first Premier of Djibouti upon gaining its independence from France. The watch was then gifted by Premier Assan Gouled to the family of the present owner.

It has become clear also that the Platinum bracelet was unfortunately sold at some point in the watch’s history. However for the new owner of this exceptional timepiece Sotheby’s has especially commissioned the production of stainless steel end links, now fitted, allowing the watch to be worn on a leather strap.