Jonathan Darracott
Global Head
Lot 8
Rolex. A fine and rare 18K gold automatic calendar bracelet watch with orange lacquered 'stella' dial and green Khanjar with historical provenance Day-Date, Ref: 18038, Circa 1982
5 August 2020, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £57,562.50 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Watches specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
Penelope Andrews
Head of Department
Charles Dower
Head of sale, Knightsbridge
Rolex. A fine and rare 18K gold automatic calendar bracelet watch with orange lacquered 'stella' dial and green Khanjar with historical provenance
Model: Day-Date
Reference: 18038
Date: Circa 1982
Movement: 27-jewel Cal.3055 automatic, adjusted to 5 positions and temperature, No.057****
Dial: Orange lacquer, printed green Khanjar, applied gilt baton hour markers, outer gilt minute markers, magnified date aperture at 3, gilt baton hands with luminous inserts, centre seconds
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back and crown, inside back No.18000, fluted bezel, No.733****
Strap/Bracelet: Fitted 8385 President link
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 36mm
Accompaniments: Copies of images of the original owner Colonel Tony Lewis DSO MBE in military uniform, copy of The Times Obituary detailing Colonel Lewis's military achievements, transcript of Colonel Lewis WWII experience of 1945, compelling transcript from 1994 of Colonel Lewis experience of D-Day upon the 50th Anniversary
Reference: 18038
Date: Circa 1982
Movement: 27-jewel Cal.3055 automatic, adjusted to 5 positions and temperature, No.057****
Dial: Orange lacquer, printed green Khanjar, applied gilt baton hour markers, outer gilt minute markers, magnified date aperture at 3, gilt baton hands with luminous inserts, centre seconds
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back and crown, inside back No.18000, fluted bezel, No.733****
Strap/Bracelet: Fitted 8385 President link
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 36mm
Accompaniments: Copies of images of the original owner Colonel Tony Lewis DSO MBE in military uniform, copy of The Times Obituary detailing Colonel Lewis's military achievements, transcript of Colonel Lewis WWII experience of 1945, compelling transcript from 1994 of Colonel Lewis experience of D-Day upon the 50th Anniversary
Footnotes
For nearly 70 years now the Day-Date has been an icon of luxury and sophistication for 20th and 21st century watch connoisseurs. A mainstay of Rolex production since 1956, the Day-Date has enjoyed a long history of collaboration and customisation, in particular with the Sultanate of Oman, whilst maintaining the design features that made it a hit from its launch. In the 1970s and 80s Rolex experimented with 'stella' dials whereby finely lacquered dials were fitted to Day-Dates in a diverse range of bright and unusual colours such as the current attractive bold orange example. These dials and indeed the Khanjar symbol went through a period of not being particularly fashionable leading to many being swapped for more mainstay dials over the years. Recently they have experienced a revival in interest and their subsequent rarity makes them now very desirable for collectors.
Born in 1920, Colonel Tony Lewis, DSO, MBE, had an extensive military career starting at a young age with the arrival of WWII. His early advancement within the military earned him the nickname 'the boy colonel' and after WWII he went on to see active duty in the Malayan Emergency and helped set up the Kenyan National Service. It was for his work on the latter that he was awarded an MBE.
In the 60s, Colonel Lewis held the position of commander of the Sultan of Muscats armed forces. It was during this period, whilst orchestrating the operations against rebels in Dhofar, that the colonel most likely received the watch. Rolex are known to have produced a limited number of watches especially for the Sultan of Oman. These watches featured the Emblem of Oman known as the Khanjar and were given as gifts to people of importance by his Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said.
Included with the lot are photograph copies of Colonel Lewis in military uniform as well as truly compelling personal records of a distinguished career.
