An Evening with Rolex

I recently enjoyed a private dinner with Rolex & around 12 other guests at their new 32 St James building in London, truly beautiful premises which they have sympathetically refurbished to provide a perfect setting for small informal client & collector events.

The dinner was followed by a private viewing of the new Rolex DEEPSEA SEA-DWELLER CHALLENGER and one of the original vintage Rolex DEEPSEA SPECIALS. I won't go into too much detail as there are always more questions than answers, but will share a few images of the evening just to put you in the mood.

The original Rolex DEEPSEA SEA-DWELLER CHALLENGER 39370FT / 12000M

Image of the Rolex DEEPSEA SPECIAL presented above the actual watch in the Display

Another Image of the Rolex DEEPSEA SPECIAL presented above the actual watch in the Display

actual Vintage Rolex DEEPSEA SPECIAL
The Case & Lugs are of interest

actual Vintage Rolex DEEPSEA SPECIAL
Interesting to note that the fact the actual watch on display did not have an underline was lost on our hosts

Goyard Watch Boxes

Although the trip to Paris was nothing short of a disaster due to the theft of 4 vintage Rolex. I did manage to collect my latest order of Goyard watches boxes.
For anyone not familiar with Goyard (www.Goyard.fr)  they were established in 1792, and are the oldest Parisian trunk maker's still in business. The company has been passed down from generation to generation under the successive names of Martin, Morel and finally Goyard.
As any watch collector will know, finding the perfect watch box to store your prized possessions is not any easy task. Goyard in my opinion offer the best solution of any luxury trunk maker. Combing style and heritage with perfect dimensions and sufficiently secure casing for most storage & travel requirements, There are just enough design/colour combinations to keep each box interesting. Available in 4 different sizes containing either 4,6,8 and 12 watch rolls.
Anyone wishing to order one (delivery is circa 3 months) should contact the delightful Joseph Albanese at Goyard 233, rue Saint Honoré 75001 Paris T +33 1 42 60 57 04 

Vintage Rolex Stolen in Paris

Unfortunately at 19.00 on Saturday 16th February, 4 vintage Rolex watches were stolen from me at Gare de Lyon station in Paris.

If anyone has any information or is offered the watches, please contact me
via telephone on +44 7977 469 568 or +41 799 642 379 or email db@vintage-db.com

A reward is offered for their safe return.

Model references & serials as follow

• Rolex 6263 Daytona with 2 colour White Paul Newman Dial. Serial 3,645,876 

• Rolex 6536-1 Submariner with 4 Line Gilt Dial & Red Triangle Bezel. Serial 399,718 

• Rolex 16610 Submariner with Tiffany & Co Dial. Serial X456,213 

• Rolex 5512 Submariner 2 Line Gilt Outer Track. Serial 764,291

Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700/1 Oman

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.

PATEK PHILIPPE - NAUTILUS - 3700/1 - OMAN KHANJAR - Serial. 536.200 - Movement 1.304.952

PATEK PHILIPPE - NAUTILUS - 3700/1 - OMAN KHANJAR - Serial. 536.200 - Movement 1.304.952

PATEK PHILIPPE - NAUTILUS - 3700/1 - OMAN KHANJAR - Serial. 536.201 - Movement 1.304.954

PATEK PHILIPPE - NAUTILUS - 3700/1 - OMAN KHANJAR - Serial. 536.201 - Movement 1.304.954

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.

If you are an original owner of a vintage Rolex, Patek Philippe or Panerai watch, and are looking to sell, value or just share your story, please contact Daniel Bourn at www.vintage-db.com or via  +44 7977 469 568 (London) or +41 799 642 379 (Geneva) or via email at db@vintage-db.com.


© Copyright  Daniel Bourn www.vintage-db.com