President Nasser’s gold Rolex Day-Date with an inscription from Anwar El Sadat, symbolizing their bond
Offered by his grandson Gamal Khalid Gamal Abdel Nasser, the Rolex Day-Date carries a pre-sale estimat of $30,000 to $60,000 (nearly EGP 1.4 million to EGP 2.9 million).
Nasser led the 23 July 1952 revolution that toppled the British-backed monarchy in Egypt, reshaping the country's political landscape and influencing the Arab world. He ruled Egypt from 1954 until his death in 1970.
The unique watch was gifted to Nasser by the late President Anwar El-Sadat in 1963. El Sadat, who would later succeed Nasser as President of Egypt in 1970, shared a long-standing friendship with his predecessor, marked by deep political and personal connections.
According to the grandson, President Nasser can be seen wearing the watch in photographs taken that date, up until 1970.
The watch features Arabic (Hindi) numerals and script and bears the inscription "Mr Anwar El Sadat 26-9-1963" on its back in Arabic.
In an letter accompanying the watch, Gamal Khalid wrote: “My grandmother, Taheya Kazem, gave my father, Khalid, the watch that was worn by his father, Gamal Abdel Nasser, up until his death. As the eldest son, she wanted him to have it.”
Khalid, in turn, passed it on to Gamal before he died in 2011, preserving the watch's symbolic weight.
The Rolex Day-Date, often dubbed the “President’s Watch,” was introduced in 1956 and exclusively crafted in precious metals.
It gained its nickname due to its association with world leaders and influential figures who valued its iconic day and date display, making it a symbol of power and prestige.
“Growing up, we learned of how modest President Nasser was, rejecting to live an extravagant life of wealth and materialism,” his grandson added in the letter.
Gamal Khalid's letter detailing the legacy of his grandfather's Rolex Day-Date and its family significance
The Rolex Day-Date, an exception among his few personal luxuries, remained deeply valued.
Having never owned a house and with his few material possessions donated by the Nasser family to his namesake museum in Cairo, this Rolex Day-Date remains his only possession outside any museum collection.
President Nasser wearing his Rolex Day-Date during a historic moment
Nasser remains a symbol of dignity, pan-Arabism, and above all social justice for many.
His funeral was attended by millions of mourners and is still considered one of the biggest funerals in history.
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