The recent Geneva Auctions included the following Lot (315) from Christies
The watch attracted much interest and was finally acquired by Vintage-DB for 81k CHF, 30k above the original estimate, not particularly surprising if you consider the Lot Notes advised that "In depth research results in the discovery that this reference 3700/1 is the only known example of a stainless steel Nautilus model made to the special order for the Royal Household of the Sultanate of Oman." This statement is actually not quite correct, as we were aware of another other example, although this made the lot more interesting.
We previously presented via the Vintage-DB Blog, information on the special order vintage Rolex watches issued by Sultan Qaboos Bin Sa'id to the British Military (Rolex ref. 1665 Oman Khanjar & Qaboos Sea-Dwellers) in the 1970s, of particular interest in this instance are the Rolex Red 'Oman Khanjar & Qaboos Sea-Dwellers which are found in a consecutive numbered batch of 80-90 watches. This is unusual as most serials are issued in a random order & not assigned to a specific model, indicating a dedicated special order to Qaboos.
We can now be quite sure that not only did Qaboos commission a special order Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700/1 with Oman Khanjar dial, but as with the Red 'Oman Khanjar & Qaboos' Sea-Dwellers, the discovery of a 2nd Patek Philippe 3700/1 with Oman Khanjar dial (pictured below) indicates that the watch sold by Christies forms part of what is also a small consecutive serial batch of the iconic Genta designed Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700/1. Incredibly the 2 watches that have surfaced have consecutive serial numbers 536.200 and 536.201 (536.201 is the Christies watch), movement numbers are just 1 digit apart 1.304.952 and 1.304.954 and the Patek Philippe Archive Extracts advises that both watches were sold on 31st July 1978.
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| PATEK PHILIPPE - NAUTILUS - 3700/1 - OMAN KHANJAR - Serial. 536.200 - Movement 1.304.952 |
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| PATEK PHILIPPE - NAUTILUS - 3700/1 - OMAN KHANJAR - Serial. 536.200 - Movement 1.304.952 |
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| PATEK PHILIPPE - NAUTILUS - 3700/1 - OMAN KHANJAR - Serial. 536.201 - Movement 1.304.954 |
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| PATEK PHILIPPE - NAUTILUS - 3700/1 - OMAN KHANJAR - Serial. 536.201 - Movement 1.304.954 |
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| PATEK PHILIPPE - NAUTILUS - 3700/1 - OMAN KHANJAR - Serial. 536.200 & 536.201 |
Further research indicates the possible existence of a 3rd + 4th watch with serial numbers which enables us to estimate a consecutive numbered batch of approximately 20 examples.
Given the interest, demand and ever increasing values of the genuine Oman issued Rolex watches, a special order Patek Philippe with the Oman Khanjar dial crest is important to both vintage Rolex & Patek Philippe collectors and increases the interest, understanding and significance of the 1970s Qaboos era watches.
© Copyright Daniel Bourn www.vintage-db.com
