While Christie’s has had to postpone its Dubai watch auction until Saturday, October 3, it has gathered some remarkable pieces for when the sale does go ahead.
A highlight will be this rare solar-powered desk clock by Patek Philippe, featuring the signature of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on its dial.
The rectangular gilt brass clock also sports an engraving of the UAE crest and comes with an extract from the Patek Philippe archives confirming the manufacture of the piece in 1977, and detailing the engraved "Dubai Emir Name" and "emblem of United Arab Emirates Falcon & Sailboat", as well as the piece's subsequent sale on January 12, 1978.
The auction will feature another rare timepiece of royal pedigree: an 18 karat, pink-gold watch, also by Patek Philippe, featuring an enamel painting of the late King Saud Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.
Delivered on March 28, 1956, the watch was part of a series of 150 timepieces commemorating the Saudi royal, commissioned by watchmaker Abdul Rahman Serour of Red Sea Trading, Patek Philippe’s Saudi Arabian agent.
“The watch was presented as a token of appreciation by the king during the wedding of the original owner in 1985. Entirely fresh to the market, the watch as been carefully cherished throughout the years by the family,” says Christie’s.
Also featuring in the auction is a rare stainless steel Rolex Oyster reference 15000 made for the UAE armed forces, circa 1985. The automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds comes with its original box and guarantee, and features the UAE armed forces eagle on its dial.
“The reference 15000 is a rare and very well-preserved example of a Rolex Date model supplied to the United Arab Emirates armed forces,” says Christie’s.
