Rolex

Rolex has a long history of providing special order watches to the likes of royal families (Oman), scientific organizations (Comex) and the military (British Forces). Given the small numbers these watches are made in they have become some of the most collectable variants. To distinguish these examples from ordinary examples, Rolex or their dealers (such as Asprey) would have the dials printed with coats of arms or royal insignia, and sometime, this would take the form of a case back engravings, such as the current lot.

The relationship between Rolex and the The Fuerza Aérea del Perú (FAP), or Peruvian Air Force is believed to have been formatted by the friendship between the official Rolex dealer of Lima, and the late Andre Heineger, Head of Rolex South America (and father to Patrick Heineger General Director of Rolex SA). In any event, the FAP received a number of watches from Rolex between 1962 and the late 1970’s, thought to total about 700 in total and comprising of Submariners, GMT’s and Daytona models for their high-ranking officials.

Distinguishing these watches are engravings to both the case backs exterior and interior. To the exterior can be found the ‘Fuerza Aérea del Perú’ text and to the case back interior, the watches full serial number can be found engraved below its serial number.

The current watch is a Daytona reference 6265, distinguished by its steel bezel and screw down pushers. From circa 1974, this is an early example of the reference, with a 3.950m serial number. Watches supplied to organizations such as the Peruvian Air Force are usually ordered and delivered in batches that can be traced by their serial numbers being close to similar examples, so it is certainly of Interest that this current example (serial 3,950,924) is within a 14 serial range of a similar FAP Ref 6265 offered publicly for sale in 2017 (3,950,911) a FAP Ref 6265 offered in the current sale lot 275 (3,950,902). The other striking feature of the watch is how the dial has aged over time. The subsidiary registers of the watch have naturally developed a wonderful and consistent tobacco or milk chocolate brown hue, known to collectors as turning ‘Tropical’. The watch presents in excellent condition, with the full case proportions and sharp lugs.