Important Watches: Part II
Important Watches: Part II
'Khanjar' Datejust, Ref. 1601 Stainless steel and pink gold wristwatch with date and bracelet Circa 1969
Lot Closed
November 11, 01:18 PM GMT
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Rolex
'Khanjar' Datejust, Ref. 1601
Stainless steel and pink gold wristwatch with date and bracelet
Circa 1969
Dial: silvered, 'Khanjar'
Calibre: cal. 1570 automatic, 26 jewels
Case: stainless steel and 18k pink gold, screw-down back
Case number: 2’174’454
Closure: stainless steel and 18k pink gold Rolex Jubilee bracelet and folding clasp
Dimensions: 36 mm, bracelet circumference approx. 185 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: Certificate from the British Embassy in Muscat, noting the watch as a gift by His Majesty The Sultan of Oman (1973)
Rolex introduced the Datejust in 1945 as the first chronometer water-tight wristwatch with an automatic calendar. The Datejust reference 1601 was introduced in 1959 as a variant of the 1600 with a fluted bezel. Datejust pieces can be found with a myriad of variations. The present example, ref. 1601, has a pink gold fluted bezel and winding crown and has the same bi-metal combination in the bracelet. Besides these characteristics, what really makes this piece stand out is the presence of the khanjar, Oman’s national symbol on the lower half of the dial.
Commissioned by the Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said of Oman (1940-2020), via London retailer Asprey and primarily intended as diplomatic gifts. Rolex modified the dials to accommodate for the khanjar being placed at 6 o’clock. Such pieces are highly collectible and the present example’s appeal is enhanced by an accompanying letter from the British embassy in Muscat certifying the origin of the watch, something quite rare given the spontaneous nature of gift-giving.