Rolex

Timepieces have long often been used as conduits of diplomacy, from the magnificent clocks used by Jesuit missionaries in the late Ming and Qing dynasties in China, to wristwatches being gifted to heads of state in the 20th century. From the 1950s to the 1990s, various governments in the Arab Gulf States have placed orders with Rolex for timepieces featuring custom dials that would then be gifted to visiting dignitaries, heads of state, and high ranking officers. One of Rolex’s many notable clients was the United Arab Emirates government. Some of the most covetable dial configurations emerged from the custom order timepieces made by Rolex for the UAE. 

The present example was one such timepiece. Ordered by the UAE, this example bears the UAE Armed Forces’ emblem on its dial. In 1976, the Abu Dhabi Defense Force was joined with the UAE’s Federal Armed Forces, Dubai Defense Forces, and the Ras Al Khaimah Mobile Force to create the combined UAE Armed Forces. The emblem which consists of a golden falcon, the UAE flag, and seven stars representing the seven Emirates commemorates the conglomeration of the UAE’s defense forces.

There are several different known examples of the Emirates emblem, and the color of the Eagle and the Signature has seen slight changes over the years. The emblem with a silver eagle and silver stars was made for the United Arab Emirates Police Force, whereas the present example with a golden eagle and gold stars was made for the Armed Forces. The first version for the army has four smaller stars and a larger one towards the center of the dial. 

Presented to distinguished Officers of the Army, the special order dial has been featured in the Rolex Oyster, Air-King, Day-Date, and the Datejust such as in our present Reference 16013.