There was a time when Rolex allowed sovereign and corporate clients to commission special order watches. The most creative and collectible among them were ordered by the royal families from the Persian Gulf.

This piece is a great example. In the second half of the twentieth century, Rolex was well known for experimenting with different ways to treat bezels, cases, and bracelets. Unfortunately, this creativity had all but ceased by the early 1990s. The ref. 1807 took the classic Day-Date and upgraded it with a bark-like texture on the bezel as well as the center link of the iconic President bracelet, making for a truly funky 1970s watch. 

And it’s only fitting that such a watch would be ordered by an exceedingly wealthy oil monarch. The green ‘Khanjar’ crest at the 6 o’clock position not only infuses the watch with a pop of color but also indicates that the watch was commissioned by the Omani royal family. The late Sultan, Qaboos bin Said, was a fervent watch collector and famous watch gifter. These gifted watches always bore the Omani national emblem and are some of the most sought-after pieces among collectors.

This 1807 with royal provenance dates back to 1973 and features an 36 mm 18k yellow gold case and matching President bracelet, both of which are in great condition.