A Patek Philippe desk clock featuring the UAE crest will feature in Christie's live Dubai auction, scheduled for October 3. Courtesy Christie's
A Patek Philippe desk clock featuring the UAE crest will feature in Christie's live Dubai auction, scheduled for October 3. Courtesy Christie's
A Patek Philippe desk clock featuring the UAE crest will feature in Christie's live Dubai auction, scheduled for October 3. Courtesy Christie's
A Patek Philippe desk clock featuring the UAE crest will feature in Christie's live Dubai auction, scheduled for October 3. Courtesy Christie's

Patek Philippe clock featuring Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid's signature to be auctioned by Christie's


Selina Denman
  • English
  • Arabic

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.

A Patek Philippe wristwatch featuring an enamel painting of the late King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia. Courtesy Christie's
A Patek Philippe wristwatch featuring an enamel painting of the late King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia. Courtesy Christie's

“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.

A Rolex Oyster reference made for the UAE armed forces circa 1985. Courtesy Christie's
A Rolex Oyster reference made for the UAE armed forces circa 1985. Courtesy 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.

Gifts exchanged
  • King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
  • Queen Camilla -  Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
  • Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
  • Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
Three ways to boost your credit score

Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:

1. Make sure you make your payments on time;

2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;

3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.

While you're here
Five films to watch

Castle in the Sky (1986)

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Only Yesterday (1991)

Pom Poki (1994)

The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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The line up

Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego  

Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh  

Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com