Sultan Qaboos & the Coup d’état

The above picture is believed to be the only image in existence of Landon, a man who guarded his privacy very closely. It is said that when at home in the UK he would drive a privately owned black London taxi to avoid attention. It is rumoured that Qaboos would send Landon a gift of £1m GBP each year on his birthday, and on his death in 2007 his wealth was reported to have exceeded that of the Queen.

Following the coup, the deposed Sultan Sa’id bin Taimur went into exile in London and died 2 years later. When asked once of his greatest regret, the Sultan replied: "Not having had Landon shot."

and incorporated the national emblem, a Khanjar dagger (pictured below) in a sheath
superimposed upon two crossed swords.

Qaboos also added a new individual standard for the Sultanate of Oman, which exclusively featured the Khanjar in Gold with Sultans Crown above.

The Battle of Mirbat took place at 6 am on 19 July 1972. It has become one of the most famous stand-offs in the regiment's history; many have compared it to the famous battle at Rourke's Drift.

A 9 man permanent SAS team had been established at Mirbat earlier in the year. Each team was due to be posted for a three-month tour before being replaced. The occupying team was preparing to leave that very morning, when at about 5:30am a patrol discovered the 250 rebels on a hill to the North of the town.

One of the SAS gunners recalled what happened.

"We opened fire simultaneously, unleashing a hail of .50 cal bullets and machine gun fire at the approaching Adoo rebels. The running figures became a focal point where the red tracer and exploding incendiary rounds converged. Where moments before there had been an orderly advance, parts of the line now faltered and collapsed. Figures staggered, but still they kept coming, wave upon wave over the plain."

The surrounded SAS troops knew the situation the situation was serious, a frontal assault could only mean they were facing a very large force, a message was sent to the SAS HQ at Salalah. The rebels were well organised, advancing in groups and using high ground to lay down covering fire, by now rounds were coming in from all directions over the forts.

A lull in the fighting as the rebels recovered their wounded allowed two SAS troops to reach the gun pit of an antique 25 pounder (pictured below), which was used to devastating effect on the rebels, but as they fell more replaced them.

When the Dhofar rebellion finally ended in 1976 with the insurgents suppressed, the SAS contingent that had been engaged in the conflict from the time of the coup amounted to around 80 men (supported by Oman locals). The insurgents had numbered almost 15,000, a staggering achievement.

The 22nd SAS Regiment went on to engage in countless other anti terrorist campaigns, and achieved notoriety during the 1982 Iranian Embassy siege which was broadcast worldwide.


There is a custom in the Gulf of presenting gifts, often watches, in recognition of achievements, appreciation or as a mark of respect. 
British troops on active duty would not normally be allowed to accept such gifts. However in the case of Oman circa 1970-76 the restrictions did not apply. The SAS were never officially on active duty, but in Oman under the cover of the ‘British Army Training Team’ as the official documentation of the time advised.

Two of our most recent acquisitions, provide a perfect opportunity to study further both the Rolex 1665 Red & Gold Khanjar Sea-Dwellers which were presented as gifts to SAS operatives by Qaboos for the 1970-76 Oman campaign.



The Rolex 1665 Omani Sea-Dwellers with either RED Khanjar or Qaboos dial script, were commissioned by Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id via ASPREY of London in the early 1970s and presented to the British Military SAS troops who had served in Oman during the Dhofar rebellion between 1970-1976.

Many of the watches that have surfaced, like the one above, are found with a deep patina, due to the humidity in the Middle East being absorbed by the heavy tritium markers.

The configuration of the watches that have surfaced to date is as follows: -

• The Double Red lines, Depth rating and SCOC found on the standard 1665s of the period are absent and in its place the Omani Khanjar or Qaboos signature in bright red script.

• The tritium application on the 5 minute markers is very heavily applied.

• The serial numbers all begin 3,56x,xxx and are engraved between the lugs at 06:00 and inside the inner case back.

• The outer case back has the expected straight ‘Rolex’ style engravings of the period, but also carries the ASPREY engravings in the lower centre.


Following a comprehensive study of the known serial numbers, I believe that approximately 80-90 examples were produced in a consecutively numbered batch starting with serial 3566,9xx and ending at 3567,0xx. Of these estimated 80-90 examples, approximately 30% are now known. The known watches are evenly represented by either Red Khanjar or Qaboos dials, and the 2 dial variants have been fitted in a random sequence, i.e. we see consecutive serials with either dial, and then small batches of 3-4 watches with one dial type or the other.

The approximate number of watches issued is further supported by the number of SAS soldiers who served in Oman during the period 1970-1976 again reported to be in the 80s, so the assumption is that each soldier would have been allocated a RED Oman Sea-Dweller in recognition of their services.

The use of the colour Red for the Khanjar or Qaboos signature on the dials is also relevant to the colour of the new Oman national flag during this period. Red symbolized battles against foreign invaders. How very appropriate.



Until recently only 3 of the Rolex 1665 Omani Sea-Dwellers with GOLD Khanjar dial script had surfaced and as such the information on configuration and delivery was something of mystery when compared to its Red counterparts. The watch featured above is the 4th example to appear, and aids our understanding of the batch.

The configuration of the Rolex 1665 Omani Sea-Dwellers with GOLD Khanjar dials that have surfaced to date is as follows:-

• The 2 lines of Double Red Text, Depth rating and SCOC found on the standard 1665s of the period are absent and in place the Omani Khanjar in Gold script.

• The Rolex coronet on the dial is a unique style and different to the Rolex 1665 Oman Red Khanjar or other coronets on the Double Reds of the period.

• The tritium application on the 5 minute markers is absent or minimally applied.

• The serial numbers all begin 5,xxx,xxx

On further analysis of the 4 known watches the serials indicate something more. On 3 of the 4 known watches including our recent acquisition (pictured above) the serials are within the standard Double Red batch and as follows:-

5,0xx,xxx
5,0xx,xxx
5,0xx,xxx

I have deliberately omitted the remaining numbers of the serials, but they indicate a pattern, which may also provide clues to the number of examples produced.

On these 3 watches the serial number is also engraved between the lugs at 6:00 and inside the case back.

2 of the above 3 watches have been serviced recently by Rolex Geneva and records appear correct.

The other example that is known has a slight variation to the serial, and while close, is slightly later at 5.3xx,xxx. The case back style also differs, although consistent with the Great White Sea-Dwellers of this period. The inner case back does not have the serial number engraved inside, which whilst again consistent with a 5,3xx,xxx serial Sea-Dweller, may also indicate that the dial was possibly not born with the watch but fitted later, as it appears out of batch. However, until more examples surface or the delivery is confirmed by Rolex, it remains only a thought.

So how many were of the Rolex 1665 Omani Sea-Dwellers with GOLD Khanjar dials were produced, and why?

If we assume the same ratio as with the Red Oman watches, i.e. approximately 80-90 watches produced with 30% of them having surfaced to date, this would indicate a production of Gold Khanjar Sea-Dwellers at around 9-12 watches. This number would also be supported by the numbering sequence of the 3 5,0xx,xxx watches that are known. Quite clearly a very small intentional batch, created for a specific reason.

Using the historical information provided earlier of Oman during the period 1970-1976, we know that the Gold Khanjar was used only to represent the Sultanate of Oman on the Sultanates official standard, whereas the national flag features the Khanjar in White. If the use of Red on the Red Khanjar / Qaboos Sea-Dwellers is as we believe significant, it would suggest the use of Gold here would also be, possibly to indicate a special presentation directly by Sultan Qaboos himself.

We know that the battle of Mirbat was under-reported and many considered the SAS team deserving of further individual awards for gallantry. However, many in Oman at that time perceived a desire by HM Government and the MoD to downplay incidents of direct involvement of British service personnel in military action. The British Military Intelligence Corporal who received a medal for gallantry from the Sultan at the time was threatened with disciplinary action by the British Army for being directly involved.

So it was not until some 4 years later, after the battle and once the Dhofar rebellion had been suppressed that: -

· Captain Mike Kealy received the Distinguished Service Order.

· Sergeant Bob Bennett was awarded the Military Medal.

The gunners on the 25 pounder

· Trooper Sekonaia Takavesi received the Distinguished Conduct Medal and

· Staff Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba was awarded a posthumous Mention in Dispatches.

His former comrades have since campaigned for him to be awarded a posthumous Victoria cross.

We know that Qaboos was fully aware of the Battle of Mirbat as he presented an Omani
named Walid Khamis, who was injured during the battle, with the Sultan's Gallantry
Medal, Oman's highest award.

Given that the Battle of Mirbat was pivotal moment in defeating the insurgents, and the lack
of recognition given to the SAS soldiers by their own government, it is not inconceivable to
think that Qaboos who had previously commissioned the Red Oman watches to
commemorate the SAS soldiers who occupied Oman during the 1970-1976 campaign would commission a small special batch to honour the 9 SAS (and possibly others like William Stoker SOAF Strike master Jet commander) who put their lives at risk during the Battle of Mirbat to defend Oman from the rebellion.

Of course without official delivery information from Rolex, Qaboos or the surviving SAS
soldiers, we cannot be certain, but the theory should encourage further discussion, research and understanding of the events in Oman during the 1970s and the important watches that commemorate the period.

Thank you to Dr. Stephen B, Steven E, Paolo & Marc S for their invaluable contributions.

© Copyright  Daniel Bourn www.vintage-db.com