A surprise out of Oman it is indeed, my latest addition to my collection.
Since Hannes Pantli went for the first time to Oman in 1974, a lot of IWC
watches went that way.
The sultan of Oman, Qaboos Bin Said of Oman, was an avid watch collector. And
he gifted loyal people and friends with a watch. And on that watch, the coat
of arms, the Omani dagger, the Khanjar.
Quit some IWC watches had the sign on the dial, also Rolex, Cartier, Tudor,
Audemars Piguet, Piaget and Patek Philippe were some of the brands that were
bought by the sultan.
On several pictures we see the sultan with an IWC ref 3551, the compass watch,
on his wrist.
I saw IWC Ingenieurs ( early ones and the 1832 ), Yachtclubs, Da Vinci's and
even pocketwatches with the coat of arms on the dial.
Mostly models from the eighties and nineties.
Here are some examples I found on the internet.
picture from Antiquorum
picture Monaco
legend auctions
picture
watchclub
picture
chrono24
picture
Christies
So I was surprised that an Aquatimer ref 376710 from 2011 was bearing the
Khanjar engraved on the caseback. A wonderful gift from the sultan. I am very
pleased that I could secure it for my collection.
Not only because I like the deep blue of the dial and the splendid luminosity
in the dark, but also because the Oman connection, a part of the history of
IWC.
I had no idea this relationship still was going between IWC and the sultan of
Oman so recently.
So here are some pictures of my new Aquatimer.
Also the box is custom made.
