Oman Khanjar Dial 19018 Rolex Oysterquartz

The Oysterquartz is more adored today than it ever has been historically. However, if you’re looking for the one Oysterquartz that encapsulates late-70s opulence, this has to be it. The halo product Day-Date version of the Oysterquartz, ref. 19018. It was given its own interpretation of the President bracelet, still integrated. But this is a 19018 made for the Sultan of Oman with a Khanjar on the dial and caseback. There are but a few Oman Oysterquartz still alive and trading hands today that I’m aware of, and they always just floor me as being so lovably from a specific time and place. This one has the crown above the khanjar as well, more on that later.

The Oysterquartz is Rolex on the back foot, which paradoxically is when they’ve created some of their most interesting designs. It featured a degree of over-engineering that really asks for an analogy to Mercedes of that era. Not satisfied with the Beta 21 movement at the dawn of the quartz revolution, Rolex took five years to design and develop the Oysterquartz’s calibre 5035. It debuted in 1977 and used a higher frequency oscillator, 32 Khz, which had the ability to self-regulate according to ambient temperature. Moreover, it is one of the most beautifully finished quartz movements that had been made in period, decorated with Geneva stripes. The calibre 5035 (Datejust) and 5055 (the Day-Date) set a new bar of +/- 0.7 seconds per day compared to the -4/+6 for mechanical movements.

It is no surprise that the Sultanate of Oman, seeking the best, would’ve ordered Oysterquartz with his other mechanical Rolexes in 1979. Interestingly, there are two main types of khanjar signatures, where most feature just the tradiitonl belt over the curved dagger and dual swords, this one also has a crown atop. The former was for the state of Oman, the latter for the Royal family itself only used after the Dhofar rebellion. These went through a long decade around the 90s over being less valuable than standard dials, where many were destroyed and swapped for normal dials at retailers. This surviving example with its oil-black dial, semi-President/Day-Date bracelet, and khanjar front & back is just rad. Am I the only one who wants to see an Oysterquartz collection return?

This example appears to have a strong case overall, with the bezel equally sharp. Its caseback has light wear to the engraving, which is one data point in its favor for sure. The red inside of the caseback engraving is correct. It is auctioning at Geneva this fall.