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拍品专文
Christie’s is thrilled to present for the first time at auction this incredibly rare white gold Nautilus reference 3700⁄1, made as part of a special order for the Sultan of Oman in 1978. Not only one of the rarest of all vintage gold Nautilus with an almost mythical status, it is also, to the best of our knowledge, fresh to the market and previously unknown to scholars. Until the discovery of the present timepiece, only two examples of the white gold Nautilus reference 3700 with ‘Royal Khanjar’ dial were known worldwide. The present white gold Nautilus ‘Royal Khanjar’, now the third known example, is without question one of the most significant new discoveries of recent years. Although both the dial and bracelet have been changed during servicing, the Extract from the Archives states confirms the ‘dial with crown and coat-of-arms’, thus confirming its status as a ‘Royal Khanjar’.
The present timepiece with movement no. 1'306'543 and case no. 540'624 is the second earliest example so far discovered. All three known examples have movement and case numbers with a very close proximity to each other and were all made in 1978. It is interesting that all four white gold ref. 3700 with Khanjar emblem dials (three ‘Royal’ Khanjar and one ‘non-Royal’ without crown) were not only made in the same year, 1978, but were also all sold on the same day, January 14th 1980, showing clearly that they were all part of a specially designated order produced for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said.
A man of undeniably exquisite taste and also a watch enthusiast, His Late Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said owned and offered as gifts innumerable timepieces. Some of these watches have made modern horological history as symbols of the ultimate level of watch collecting. His Majesty sometimes offered gifts for outstanding service to loyal servants, members of the administration and citizens. Depending on the level and importance of the occasion, the gift of watches varied from simple timepieces to important Patek Philippe watches. Whilst other wristwatches bearing the Khanjar emblem of the Sultanate of Oman were presented to honoured recipients by the State of Oman, Patek Philippe reference 3700s printed with the ‘Crowned’ or ‘Royal’ Khanjar emblem were gifted by the Sultan himself to bestow his personal gratitude, a tremendous honour.
To date, a total of only 12 ‘Khanjar’ reference 3700s are known publicly: 4 examples in stainless steel, 4 in yellow gold, and 4 in white gold. Unsurprisingly and reassuringly, all these Nautilus with Khanjar emblem dials are found within a few movement and case numbers of each other.
The known Ref. 3700 ‘Khanjar’ Nautilus white gold
Movement No. 1’306’541, Case No. 540’623, 1978 ('Royal Khanjar' emblem)
Movement No. 1’306’543, Case No. 540’624, 1978 ('Royal Khanjar' emblem) – The Present Watch
Movement No. 1’306’565, Case No. 540’633, 1978 ('Non-Royal Khanjar' emblem)
Movement No. 1'306'579, Case No. 540'643, 1978 ('Royal Khanjar' emblem)
Any Patek Philippe reference 3700⁄1 Nautilus in white gold is vanishingly rare with a total of only 13 known to exist across all variations, including three ‘Royal’ Crowned Khanjars and one ‘uncrowned’. Indeed, the white gold reference 3700⁄1 is so little known that even veteran collectors may never have seen an example in person. An important new discovery and fresh to the auction market, a watch of this magnitude speaks for itself and is a very exciting prospect for collectors at the highest level, a must-have for both the Nautilus collector and the collector of Omani designated watches. The discovery of this watch presents perhaps the only chance to own one of the most exclusive of all variations of the truly landmark reference 3700⁄1.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said (1940-2020)
Born on 18th November 1940 in Salalah, Dhofar, His Majesty was the only son of Sultan Said bin Taimur and Princess Mazoon al-Mashani. His education took place in Salalah, India, where he studied under Dhayal Sharma, the former President of India, and eventually in England. At the age of 20, he began his military training and joined the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, eventually serving in Germany for one year in the Scottish Rifles.
His Majesty ascended the throne on 23 July 1970 and proved to be a highly effective ruler, overseeing a period of profound transformation in Oman. Leveraging the country’s oil revenues, he guided its modernization, bringing significant social and technological progress. Under his leadership, infrastructure rapidly developed, with the construction of schools, highways, hospitals, and public institutions, alongside expanded investment in healthcare and education. He also introduced parliamentary elections, notably granting women the right to vote and stand for office, with the parliament exercising legislative authority.
On the international stage, His Majesty pursued a policy of neutrality, fostering strong diplomatic relations both within the Middle East and globally. Oman maintained balanced ties with nations such as Iran, the United Kingdom, and the United States, allowing the Sultan to act at times as a discreet intermediary in sensitive diplomatic matters.
Beyond his well-known passion for watches, His Majesty had a deep appreciation for music, particularly classical compositions. He held a special affinity for the pipe organ, and under his patronage, the Omani orchestra gained recognition as one of the most respected in the Middle East.
The present timepiece with movement no. 1'306'543 and case no. 540'624 is the second earliest example so far discovered. All three known examples have movement and case numbers with a very close proximity to each other and were all made in 1978. It is interesting that all four white gold ref. 3700 with Khanjar emblem dials (three ‘Royal’ Khanjar and one ‘non-Royal’ without crown) were not only made in the same year, 1978, but were also all sold on the same day, January 14th 1980, showing clearly that they were all part of a specially designated order produced for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said.
A man of undeniably exquisite taste and also a watch enthusiast, His Late Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said owned and offered as gifts innumerable timepieces. Some of these watches have made modern horological history as symbols of the ultimate level of watch collecting. His Majesty sometimes offered gifts for outstanding service to loyal servants, members of the administration and citizens. Depending on the level and importance of the occasion, the gift of watches varied from simple timepieces to important Patek Philippe watches. Whilst other wristwatches bearing the Khanjar emblem of the Sultanate of Oman were presented to honoured recipients by the State of Oman, Patek Philippe reference 3700s printed with the ‘Crowned’ or ‘Royal’ Khanjar emblem were gifted by the Sultan himself to bestow his personal gratitude, a tremendous honour.
To date, a total of only 12 ‘Khanjar’ reference 3700s are known publicly: 4 examples in stainless steel, 4 in yellow gold, and 4 in white gold. Unsurprisingly and reassuringly, all these Nautilus with Khanjar emblem dials are found within a few movement and case numbers of each other.
The known Ref. 3700 ‘Khanjar’ Nautilus white gold
Movement No. 1’306’541, Case No. 540’623, 1978 ('Royal Khanjar' emblem)
Movement No. 1’306’543, Case No. 540’624, 1978 ('Royal Khanjar' emblem) – The Present Watch
Movement No. 1’306’565, Case No. 540’633, 1978 ('Non-Royal Khanjar' emblem)
Movement No. 1'306'579, Case No. 540'643, 1978 ('Royal Khanjar' emblem)
Any Patek Philippe reference 3700⁄1 Nautilus in white gold is vanishingly rare with a total of only 13 known to exist across all variations, including three ‘Royal’ Crowned Khanjars and one ‘uncrowned’. Indeed, the white gold reference 3700⁄1 is so little known that even veteran collectors may never have seen an example in person. An important new discovery and fresh to the auction market, a watch of this magnitude speaks for itself and is a very exciting prospect for collectors at the highest level, a must-have for both the Nautilus collector and the collector of Omani designated watches. The discovery of this watch presents perhaps the only chance to own one of the most exclusive of all variations of the truly landmark reference 3700⁄1.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said (1940-2020)
Born on 18th November 1940 in Salalah, Dhofar, His Majesty was the only son of Sultan Said bin Taimur and Princess Mazoon al-Mashani. His education took place in Salalah, India, where he studied under Dhayal Sharma, the former President of India, and eventually in England. At the age of 20, he began his military training and joined the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, eventually serving in Germany for one year in the Scottish Rifles.
His Majesty ascended the throne on 23 July 1970 and proved to be a highly effective ruler, overseeing a period of profound transformation in Oman. Leveraging the country’s oil revenues, he guided its modernization, bringing significant social and technological progress. Under his leadership, infrastructure rapidly developed, with the construction of schools, highways, hospitals, and public institutions, alongside expanded investment in healthcare and education. He also introduced parliamentary elections, notably granting women the right to vote and stand for office, with the parliament exercising legislative authority.
On the international stage, His Majesty pursued a policy of neutrality, fostering strong diplomatic relations both within the Middle East and globally. Oman maintained balanced ties with nations such as Iran, the United Kingdom, and the United States, allowing the Sultan to act at times as a discreet intermediary in sensitive diplomatic matters.
Beyond his well-known passion for watches, His Majesty had a deep appreciation for music, particularly classical compositions. He held a special affinity for the pipe organ, and under his patronage, the Omani orchestra gained recognition as one of the most respected in the Middle East.