Dubai, 17 April 2023 – From 24 April to 4 May, Christie’s Watches Online: The Dubai Edit celebrates springtime with a vintage marvel: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 4100BA ‘Maktoum Dial’ (dial signed Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the current ruler of Dubai), dating from 1980 (Est: US$30,000-50,000).
The Royal Oak, widely considered one of the most influential designs of all time, was originally designed by Gerald Genta for Audemars Piguet. The Royal Oak Ref. 4100 was launched in 1977 as a mid-size version (35 mm) of the iconic Ref. 5402 (39 mm). This time designed by Jacqueline Dimier, it was also the first Royal Oak to be equipped with a centre seconds hands. From the outset, it was produced in steel, yellow gold, and two-tone versions. According to Audemars Piguet, around 2,130 pieces were made in yellow gold between 1977 and 1988.
The present lot has the distinction of carrying the name of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the current ruler of Dubai, who, in the 1980s, held the position of Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates. To accommodate his signature on the top half of the dial, the Audemars Piguet script was moved to bottom half of the dial.
Sheikh Mohammad’s name has appeared on vintage Rolex wristwatches in the past, but we have hardly come across of his signature on vintage Audemars Piguet models.
It was common practice among Gulf royalty and prominent Government establishments in the region to commission watches with their names or logos on the dial. These watches were given as state gifts or commemorative tokens to individuals, diplomats, or business partners. Within collectors’ circles, these watches were known as “Arabic dials” and are considered collector’s pieces.
This genuine Royal Oak Ref. 4100BA ‘Maktoum Dial’ will be sold with its Audemars Piguet Extract between 24 April and 4 May in Christie’s Watches Online: The Dubai Edit Sale.
About Christie’s
Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business. Renowned and trusted for its expert live and online auctions, as well as its bespoke private sales, Christie’s offers a full portfolio of global services to its clients, including art appraisal, art financing, international real estate and education. Christie’s has a physical presence in 46 countries, throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, with flagship international sales hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva. It also is the only international auction house authorized to hold sales in mainland China (Shanghai).
auctions span more than 80 art and luxury categories, at price points ranging from $200 to over $100 million. Christie’s has sold 8 of the 10 most important single-owner collections in history, including the Paul G. Allen Collection—the most valuable collection ever offered at auction (November 2022). In recent years, Christie’s also achieved the world record price for an artwork at auction (Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, 2017), for a 20th century artwork (Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, 2022) and for a work by a living artist (Jeff Koons’ Rabbit, 2019). Christie’s Private Sales offers a seamless service for buying and selling art, jewellery and watches outside of the auction calendar, working exclusively with Christie’s specialists at a client’s individual pace.
Following the groundbreaking 2021 sale of the first digital art NFT ever offered by a global auction house (Beeple’s Everydays), Christie’s recently launched the first fully on-chain auction platform dedicated to exceptional NFT art. As an industry leader in digital innovation, Christie’s also continues to pioneer new technologies that are redefining the business of art, including the use of hologram technology to tour life-size 3D objects around the world, and the creation of viewing and bidding experiences that integrate augmented reality, global livestreaming, buy-now channels, and hybrid sales formats.
Christie’s is dedicated to advancing responsible culture throughout its business and communities worldwide, including achieving sustainability through net zero carbon emissions by 2030, and actively using its platform in the art world to amplify under-represented voices and support positive change.
Browse, bid, discover, and join us for the best of art and luxury at: www.christies.com or by downloading Christie’s apps.
*Please note when quoting estimates above that other fees will apply in addition to the hammer price – see Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of the sale catalogue.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium.