Footnotes

The present Rolex Day Date Ref:18039 is a fine example in 18K white gold and features the national emblem of Oman, the Khanjar dagger in a sheath superimposed upon two crossed swords. Representing an exceptional piece of family, military and watchmaking history, it was given to the original owner Lieutenant General Sir Michael Stuart Gray KCB, OBE, DL (1932-2011) by the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said al Said (1940-2020) in 1986.

Born in 1932, Lt. Gen. Sir Michael Gray was the son of a former Merchant Navy officer and after leaving school joined the 5th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery as a Gunner and Lance Bombardier in 1950. This was shortly followed by time at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, marking the start of a highly distinguished military career that would include experience in the Cyprus Emergency, the Suez Operation, Jordan, Kuwait and Ireland to name but a few - a career that could hardly be repeated today.

In 1968 at the age of just 35 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and took command of 1 PARA the following year in March 1969. This coincided with the Northern Ireland crisis and it was as a result of his service in the province that he was awarded an OBE.

In the 1980s, Sir Michael was promoted to the position of Lieutenant General and Knighted to become General Officer Commanding (GOC) South East District and Commander Joint Force HQ for all Out of Area Operations. It was during this period, whilst being involved with the management and oversight of Exercise Saif Sareea in 1986, working closely at the highest level with Oman, that Lt. Gen. Sir Michael received the current watch.

Great provenance typically comes in the form of photographs and written accounts with first hand reports becoming exceedingly rare. With this in mind the current example presents a particularly exciting opportunity as Lt. Gen. Sir Michael was interviewed by the London Imperial War Museum in the 1990s to record his memories of his military career. With over 25 hours accessible online, these recordings offer a wonderful and important piece of oral history. Pertinent to this occasion is the recording that can be found on reel 51 at approximately 7 minutes in – Lt. Gen. Sir Michaels memories of his time in Oman.

His recollections include the management of the military exercise, the personal contact and meetings with the Sultan, and the request from the Sultan to stay on and be present at the Oman Armed Forces day to take place shortly after the official end of the exercise. This request was initially denied by the MOD and it took the intervention of the Foreign Office to allow Sir Michael to be formally present at the parade.

Sir Michael would go on to wear his Omani Day Date for special occasions, such as the one pictured where it is visible upon his wrist at a Trinity House event in Yorkshire in the late 1990's. With such prestigious provenance this really is a fantastic opportunity for any discerning collection.