Rolex Daytona "Khanjar"

About the Watch

The act of presenting a watch has historically served as a gesture of appreciation for loyalty, enduring service, or exceptional deeds. Few individuals have exhibited such generosity with lavish timepieces as His Majesty Qaboos bin Said al Said, renowned as the Sultan of Oman. Upon his passing in 2020 at the age of 79, Qaboos had garnered a reputation not only as a prolific collector of watches but also as a creator of highly sought-after special editions. The origins of the Khanjar watches trace back to 1970 when Qaboos orchestrated a coup, supported by the British government and executed with the assistance of MI6 and an SAS unit masquerading as "the British Army Training Team," to overthrow his less progressive father. Following the successful coup, Qaboos rebranded his nation as Oman (formerly known as "Muscat and Oman") and adopted a new national flag adorned with a distinctive emblem—a sheathed Khanjar dagger atop two crossed swords. In gratitude to the SAS troops involved in the coup, Qaboos initiated the practice of gifting watches, further accentuating his appreciation by having the dials personalized with the newly created Khanjar symbol. It is believed that Qaboos proceeded to order several hundred Khanjar timepieces to distribute among a wide range of recipients, from trusted advisors to foreign dignitaries, and even to the most humble of servants, if he deemed them worthy. While Rolex was the preferred brand, Khanjar watches from other prestigious makers such as Patek Philippe, Tudor, and IWC are also known to be in circulation.

About the Brand

Known the world over, Rolex is a benchmark for prestige and quality in watchmaking. Since its creation, the brand has placed the reliability of its products uppermost. It submits virtually its entire movement production for testing by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres to obtain COSC certification. Rolex is also renowned for its after-sales service which is performed by staff who have been specially trained, often in Rolex's own schools in countries around the globe, including the United States and Japan. Rolex was founded by Hans Wilsdorf. A Bavarian watchmaker who emigrated to Switzerland, he immediately put his natural flair for products and business acumen at the service of a brand that would soon forge an international reputation. He was succeeded in 1963 by André Heiniger, whose son Patrick took over at the helm in 1992. Bruno Meier in 2009 then Gian Riccardo Marini in 2011 were successively appointed at the head of the business, a limited company (société anonyme) that is wholly owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. In 2014, Jean-Frédéric Dufour, previously Chief Executive of Zenith, was named as the new CEO. Such a reputation hasn't gone unnoticed among collectors, as recent auction results demonstrate. At a 2013 sale in Geneva, for example, a Daytona Chronograph in steel achieved an absolute record price of US$ 1.1 million. The brand hones its image through associations with prominent and well-respected personalities chosen from the arts and sports. Also, in 1976 Rolex launched its Awards for Enterprise which each year single out innovative projects that promote sustainable development. The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative gives young artists a privileged opportunity to benefit from the experience of masters in their field.