49 Rolex An extremely rare and attractive, GMT-Master, dual-time automatic wristwatch in steel, with center seconds, date and bracelet, made for the Royal Oman Police Force. reference 16750.

Estimate: € 50.000 –⁠ 100.000

Few creations in Rolex’s storied history evoke as much intrigue and exploration of purpose as the GMT‑Master—a tool originally commissioned in 1955 for Pan Am pilots to track dual time zones. Over generations, references such as the 1675 and its successor, the 16750 (launched in 1981), became the benchmark for rugged elegance, marrying utilitarian design with subtle refinement. The 16750 is notable for integrating the quick-set date mechanism via the calibre 3075 and offering both matte and gloss dial versions, making it a transitional icon within a model lineage prized by collectors. A curved dagger poised upon its belt, crowned by two crossed swords—the Khanjar has become nothing short of legendary in the world of collecting. To encounter this emblem on the dial of a Rolex is already an event; to find it enhanced by a crown and laurel wreath, forming the full Coat of Arms of the Royal Omani Police, is an occasion of the rarest order. Rendered here in crisp white, this insignia embodies not only authority but symbolism: a golden trinity of sovereignty, strength, and service. Timepieces commissioned under the patronage of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Saided occupy a sacred place in horology. Ordered directly from Rolex in small, bespoke runs, they were never commercial products, but rather personal gifts of gratitude—tokens bestowed upon loyal subjects, devoted officials, and visiting dignitaries. Of all the Omani dials known, those bearing the Police Force coat of arms stand at the pinnacle of rarity, for they were reserved solely for members of the Sultanate’s law enforcement.Whereas many Khanjar-emblazoned Rolexes have surfaced in recent years, the Police crest is virtually unobtainable. Current scholarship suggests that only the GMT-Master reference 16750 and the Submariner reference 16800 were ever delivered with this emblem, each produced in an exceptionally small batch. The present Rolex GMT-Master reference 16750 circa 1983, distinguished by its white-stamped symbolic dial crest, is in itself a study in collectability. The reference 16750, introduced in 1981 as successor to the long-serving 1675, offered the welcome upgrade of a quick-set date, and is rightly regarded as a transitional reference, manufactured for scarcely seven years. Early examples, display the desirable matte dial before Rolex shifted to glossy finishes around 1986. Coupled with its vivid red-and-blue “Pepsi” bezel insert, the aesthetic balance is nothing short of captivating. One of the very few GMT-Master reference 16750 with the Omani Police crest to have appeared to the market, the present timepiece occupies an exalted tier within the collecting community. Combining historical resonance, impeccable provenance, mechanical evolution, and exceptional preservation, it is a watch that transcends the category of Rolex alone. It is a cultural artifact, a jewel of diplomacy, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the connoisseur to embrace history not just remembered—but worn on the wrist.

Condition Report

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