The present timepiece is an extraordinary Ref. 6204 personalized by Serpico Y Laino. A significant element heightening its importance is the stll legible engraving on the case back: ?SL ACERO?.
To the best of our knowledge , Sultan Qaboos bin Said, of Oman ordered 100 circa Sea-Dwellers Ref. 1665 with his signature in red in 1972/1973, serial number 35669xx. All this special watches were retailed by Asprey, official Rolex retailer in Arabia and the case backs were engraved with the Asprey logo at the opposite side of the Rolex logo. All inside case backs were engraved with the case number. Antiquorum sold a similar watch, case no 35666955 for Oman on May 13th, 2007 see lot 192.
Qaboos bin Sa?id Al Sa?id (born November 18, 1940 in Salalah) is the Sultan of Oman. He rose to power after overthrowing his father, Sa?id ibn Taymur, in 1970. He is the only son of Sultan Sa?id bin Taymur. He received his primary and secondary education in Salalah and at Pune, India and attended a private educational establishment in England from the age of sixteen. At 20 he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After graduating from Sandhurst, he joined a British Infantry regiment, The Cameronians, and served in the 1st Battalion in Germany for one year. He also held a staff appointment with the British Army. For six years prior to Said bin Taymur's overthrow, Qaboos experienced virtual house arrest in the royal palace of Salalah. In July 1970, soldiers supporting Qaboos clashed with forces loyal to Said bin Taymur, and deposed him. [2] Qaboos maintains that his father abdicated the throne. [3] The British government helped to consolidate Qaboos' power.
Qaboos acceded to the throne on 1970-07-23, moving to Muscat. There he declared that the country would no longer be known as Muscat and Oman, but would change its name to "the Sultanate of Oman" in order to better reflect its political unity. The political system which Qaboos established is that of an absolute monarchy. Qaboos also regularly engages in tours of his realm, in which any citizen with a grievance or request is allowed to appeal to the sultan in person. Critics claim these meetings to be scripted as well.[citation needed] More recently, Qaboos has allowed parliament elections (in which women have voted and stood as candidates) and pledged greater openness and participation in government. As yet, however, this parliament lacks substantial political power.
By Persian Gulf standards, Oman boasts good public order (it is an extremely safe country), middling prosperity (given its level of oil revenues) and a relatively permissive society.[citation needed] Since he acceded to the throne, Oman has broadened international relations, allowed newspapers, established high schools, built highways, opened hotels and shopping malls and spends a substantial portion of its dwindling oil revenues on health care and education. [3] In 1998, Qaboos ibn Sa?id was presented with the International Peace Award by the National Council on US-Arab Relations[citation needed]. He also forges and maintains good relations with other Arab States and partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The Sultan's birthday, 18 November, is celebrated as Oman's national holiday.