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Lot Essay
The present GMT-Master reference 1675 is an exceedingly rare example featuring the United Arab Emirates (UAE) crest and the Arabic text translated as “Ministry of Defense”. The present watch was presented as a gift by the then-Minister of Defense to an American friend working in Dubai. Noteworthy on the dial is the "Quraysh Hawk", printed in different 'padded layers' that create a tri-dimensional effect. At the center of the hawk, the symbol of the United Arab Emirates, is a polychrome enamel Dhow or Arabian sailboat, which is replaced today by the UAE federation flag.
In 1968, Raymond Trahan moved from southern Louisiana and began working in the oil industry during the initial rise in Dubai. He was a superintendent for J Ray McDermott and helped start the 100 acre operation on Dubai Creek in 1970. When he arrived in Dubai, the city was not the sprawling city as it is today. There was little there at the time and it was the oil industry that provided the initial jumpstart financially that the people of Dubai needed. Raymond Trahan was an important part to completing some of the largest oil platform constructions in the region during that decade. He met Sheikh Mohammed in the mid 70’s and the two quickly became fond of each other, largely due to their shared interest in skeet shooting. In 1978 Raymond was invited to a skeet shooting competition with the royal family of Dubai. As an award for winning the competition, he was gifted this Rolex GMT 1675 watch by Sheikh Mohammed himself. The watch has been cherished by Raymond and he wore it until he passed away at the age of 79 in August 2016.
The watch is engraved;
PRESENTED TO R. TRAHAN, BY SHAIKH M B R AL-MAKTOUM, MINISTER OF DEFENSE, ON APRIL 2.78
In 1968, Raymond Trahan moved from southern Louisiana and began working in the oil industry during the initial rise in Dubai. He was a superintendent for J Ray McDermott and helped start the 100 acre operation on Dubai Creek in 1970. When he arrived in Dubai, the city was not the sprawling city as it is today. There was little there at the time and it was the oil industry that provided the initial jumpstart financially that the people of Dubai needed. Raymond Trahan was an important part to completing some of the largest oil platform constructions in the region during that decade. He met Sheikh Mohammed in the mid 70’s and the two quickly became fond of each other, largely due to their shared interest in skeet shooting. In 1978 Raymond was invited to a skeet shooting competition with the royal family of Dubai. As an award for winning the competition, he was gifted this Rolex GMT 1675 watch by Sheikh Mohammed himself. The watch has been cherished by Raymond and he wore it until he passed away at the age of 79 in August 2016.
The watch is engraved;
PRESENTED TO R. TRAHAN, BY SHAIKH M B R AL-MAKTOUM, MINISTER OF DEFENSE, ON APRIL 2.78