The Swiss auction house Phillips in Geneva announced the sale of a rare luxury watch, which they said belonged to the late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel-Nasser, for 80,000 Swiss francs (approximately LE4.7 million).
The sale took place during a global auction of exceptional items, which garnered significant attention.
Phillips explained that the watch is a unique historical piece, documenting an aspect of Arab relations during the Nasser era and reflecting the major political and cultural transformations that the Arab world underwent in the mid-20th century.
Here are the specifications of this luxury watch, based on information from the Vogue website:
- This watch is among the few luxury items owned by President Gamal Abdel-Nasser, who was known for his aversion to material possessions.
- The watch is a Rolex Day-Date, one of Rolex’s most iconic and distinguished models, first released in the 1950s.
- This model is a favorite amongst world leaders, including US Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.
- The watch is crafted entirely from a single block of 18-karat rose gold, reflecting a high level of craftsmanship and luxury.
- This was a personal gift from Anwar Sadat to Gamal Abdel-Nasser in 1963, before Sadat later became President of Egypt.
- The Rolex Day-Date was the first watch in the world to display the time and date in 26 different languages on its dial, a technological achievement for its time.
- The watch was nicknamed “The President,” a name that became associated with this particular model due to its popularity among world leaders.
- Nasser version is distinguished by the presence of Arabic script and numerals on the dial, making it a unique example.
- On the back of the watch is an inscription in Arabic that reads: “Mr. Anwar Sadat 26-9-1963,” commemorating the gift exchange between the two men.
The watch passed through generations of the Nasser family until it reached his grandson, Gamal Khaled Gamal Abdel-Nasser, who expressed his wish to pass it on to someone who appreciates his grandfather’s legacy and his pursuit of freedom and lasting peace in the region and the world.
President Nasser was seen wearing the watch in photographs until 1970.
The late president’s grandson, presented the watch at a renowned international auction house.
Its estimated price before the sale was between US$30,000 and US$60,000 (approximately LE 1.4 to LE 2.9 million).
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
