Rolex Government and Military Logo Dials: A Complete Guide

Rolex advertised custom watches with corporate logo dials as early as the 1950’s, but dials with government crests didn’t become common until the early 1970’s. Khanjar dials are probably the most collectible and well-known example of a Rolex government crest dial, but there are dozens more that are largely overlooked. In this article, we’ll take you through every known type of Rolex government logo dial.

While corporate Rolex dials (as well as Rolex dials for sporting events) are dominated by American companies, most Rolexes with government crests and signatures belong to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

For an Overview of All Rolex Logo Dials: A Guide to Rolex Logo Dials

Were These Made By Rolex?

Some people wrongly assume that these dials were all custom-made aftermarket jobs, but they were almost all provided by Rolex like this. Notably, many of the Khanjar crest dials were stamped by Asprey Jewelers in London, who had their own Khanjar crest cliché. Aside from that, we believe these are all OEM Rolex government logo dials. Of course, customized aftermarket logo dials do exist, so let us know if you think we’ve accidentally included any!

Timeline of Rolex Government Logo Dials

The heyday of Rolex government crest dials was the 1970’s-1980’s, but a few were made much later. A 2009 Day-Date II has been seen with a Nigerian coat of arms on the dial, and Datejusts with Bahraini dials have been seen from around that timeframe as well. Those were likely the last Rolex government logo dials.

Geography of Rolex Government Logo Dials

Rolex made dials with crests or signatures from at least 15 different governments. As mentioned, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE dominate the world of Rolex government logo dials. Bahrain, France, Italy, Libya, Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Qatar, the USA, and Yemen are all represented as well. Interestingly, all known Rolex logo dials are from the Northern Hemisphere.

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Pics of Every Rolex Government Crest/Signature dial

We’ve compiled pictures of every known type of Rolex government crest or signature dial. Some are more collectible than others, but we’ll take you through all of them!

King of Bahrain

This 116200 sports the crest of Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who has been the king of Bahrain since 2002. 6-digit Rolexes with crests and logos are very rare; this is likely one of the last ones made.

Bahrain Defense Force

The Bahrain Defense Force logo is quite similar to the King of Bahrain crest, but it is flanked by two fronds on the sides and some Arabic script on the bottom.

Groupe de sécurité de la présidence de la République (GSPR)

The GSPR, established in 1983, is a special security unit responsible for protecting the French President and other high-ranking officials. Only 30 GSPR Submariners were made, and these are some of the most desirable Rolex logo dials. The employees who received these watches did have to pay for them, although they are doubtlessly worth far more than MSRP nowadays.

Polizia di Stato Sommozzatori (Italian State Police Diving Unit)

The Italian State Police Diving Unit, known as Polizia di Stato Sommozzatori, is a specialized division responsible for underwater law enforcement and rescue operations in Italy. 78 Sea-Dwellers were made with their logo, and they sell for six figures whenever they go to auction.

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah signature

Sheikh Mubarak Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1934-1987), was a member of Kuwait’s ruling family, the House of Sabah. Rolex dials with his signature are rarer than ones from other Middle Eastern rulers in Oman and the UAE, but they don’t seem to get the same hype.

Kuwait Army

Middle Eastern crests can get confusing, as several of them have similar imagery of hawks, wreaths, etc. This crest is for the Kuwait Army:

Kuwaiti Coat of Arms

A Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 from 1978 was found with a Kuwaiti Coat of Arms on the dial, and it sold for over 56,000 CHF at a Christie’s auction in 2018.

Libyan Army

After his successful coup of Libya in 1969 at the age of only 27, Muammar Gaddafi clearly understood the importance of the army’s loyalty to him. Over the years he apparently gave several Rolex (and Tudor) watches with the Libyan Army crest to soldiers. Examples can be found with and without additional Arabic script on all four sides of the crest.

Libya Air Force

Dials with a red monochromatic crest of Libya’s Air Force have been seen as well, and they’re even rarer than the Libya Army dials.

Muammar Gaddafi signature

The rarest Libyan logo dial of all is probably the Gaddafi signature dial seen on this 6265 Daytona. Gaddafi himself was never photographed wearing it, so it was likely a gift to a close confidante. Like the Omani “Khanjar Crest” dials (we’ll get to those soon), these were ordered via Asprey, an English Rolex dealer.

Nigerian Coat of Arms

A monochromatic version of the Nigerian Coat of Arms can be found on the dial of at least one 18238 Day-Date from the 1990’s, with the words “Head of State Commander-in-Chief Armed Forces of Nigeria” surrounding the image. Examples from the early 2000’s feature full-color versions of the Nigerian Coat of Arms with no surrounding text.

Khanjar Crest

One of the most famous and sought-after types of Rolex government logo dials is undoubtedly the “Khanjar Crest” dial, sometimes called the “Oman dial” or simply “Khanjar dial.” The khanjar is a traditional Omani dagger, still sometimes worn ceremonially today. The Khanjar Crest features two crossed, sheathed khanjars.

There are a few different colors and variants of the logo–some are green, some are red, some are yellow, and the very earliest known versions actually have an applied gold Khanjar Crest. Versions exist with and without a kuma (traditional Omani hat) above the crest. These were personally ordered by the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said Al Said, via Asprey in London. Since this article is focused on OEM Rolex logo dials, we should mention that Asprey themselves usually stamped the Khanjar crest onto the dial with their own cliché. However, apparently Rolex sanctioned this, and provided Asprey with “clean” dials lacking the chronometer text at the bottom to give room for the logo.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Khanjar Dial Watches

Omani Police

The emblem for the Omani Police actually has a Khanjar Crest within it. The Omani Police logo has also appeared on a handful of Rolexes. These would’ve also been ordered for Qaboos via Asprey.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said Signature

The last type of logo dial ordered by Sultan Qaboos is the dial with his own signature. It has popped up on a few different references.

Pakistan – 50 Years of Independence

In 1997, 100 quartz Rolex Cellinis were made with special dials to celebrate Pakistan’s 50th year as an independent country.

Panama Canal

In 1999, 75 numbered Submariner Dates were produced with special insignias to commemorate the transfer of the Panama Canal from the United States (who originally built the canal in the early 20th century and controlled it until then) to the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Some of these Submariners are steel, and some are two-tone.

Sheikh Khalifa Al Thani

Sheikh Khalifa Al Thani was the ruling Emir of Qatar from 1995-2013. Rather than merely put his signature on the dial, he decided to go with a portrait of himself.

Qatar Armed Forces

The color and symmetry of the crest of Qatar’s Armed Forces make it one of the more visually appealing types of logo dials.

State of Qatar

Some of you may have seen some Tudor Black Bays with “State of Qatar” written on the dial in recent years. State of Qatar dials actually have a long history with Rolex. The crest looks excellent on this ladies’ Datejust.

Saudi Crest (No Signature)

Saudi Arabia’s crest, or coat of arms, is not dissimilar to the Khanjar Crest. It features two crossed swords in front of a palm tree. This crest can be found on some Rolex dials by itself.

Saudi Crest with King Faisal Signature

King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was the 3rd King of Saudi Arabia (1964-1975). He was the first Saudi king to put his signature on the dial of a Rolex along with the Saudi crest. In some instances, “Rolex” has been pushed to the bottom of the dial.

Saudi Crest with King Khalid Signature

King Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was the 4th King of Saudi Arabia (1975-1982); he took over after his half-brother Faisal’s assassination. His signature is slightly more simple and stylized.

Saudi Crest with King Fahad Signature

King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was the 5th King of Saudi (1982-2005); he in turn became ruler after his half-brother Khalid’s heart attack. His signature seems the most stylized of all.

Saudi Arabia Armed Forces

Some Rolexes from the 1980’s sport the emblem of the Saudi armed forces. A more common version is shown here on the left, while the one on the right is a rarer version with simply “Sultan” written in Arabic under the crest.

Saudi Paratrooper Dial

One of the more mysterious Saudi Arabian logo dials is surely this paratrooper dial. This seems to be the only known example.

Saudi Royal Naval Forces Crest

Saudi Arabia’s navy received some Rolex logo dials as well. The Saudi Royal Naval Forces crest looked like this:

Royal Saudi Air Force

The only known example of a Royal Saudi Air Force Rolex dial is seen here, and based on the mediocre printing and the presence of “Precision” still at the bottom of the dial, this was possibly done aftermarket:

Royal Saudi Air Defense

The Royal Saudi Air Defense Force has their own logo, and one example of a Rolex dial with their insignia has also been found. While the printing looks fairly good, the chronometer text is still present, leaving some doubt if this is truly an OEM logo dial:

Majid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud signature (Governor of Mecca)

Majid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was the Governor of Mecca when these dials were made, so dials with his signature under the Saudi crest like this are sometimes simply called “Governor of Mecca dials.”

Abdulmuhsin bin Abdullah Al Jalawi signature (Governor of Eastern Province)

Abdulmuhsin bin Abdullah Al Jalawi, who was Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province from 1967-1985, had his signature put on some dials which are similar to the above “Governor of Mecca” dials.

Muhammad bin Fahd Al Saud signature (Governor of Eastern Province)

Muhammad bin Fahd Al Saud succeeded Abdulmuhsin bin Abdullah Al Jalawi as the governor of Eastern Province from 1985-2013. While his signature dials are very similar to those of Al Jalawi, if you look closely you’ll see that the script is different.

King Abdulaziz University

King Abdulaziz University is by far the largest school in Saudi Arabia, with over 117,000 students as of 2022!

King Abdulaziz Military College

King Abdulaziz Military College is based in Riyadh. Its history dates back to 1935, shortly after Saudi Arabia became a sovereign kingdom.

King Khalid Military Academy

Like the King Abdulaziz Military College, the King Khalid Military Academy (sometimes called the “King Khalid Military College”) is located in Saudi’s capital, Riyadh. It was apparently founded in 1965, although that was before King Khalid had ever become king, so presumably it had a different name originally.

King Faisal University

King Faisal University is a public university located in Hofuf, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1975, KFU is home to about 30,000 students, about 95% of whom are Saudis.

Saudi Fund for Development

Rolexes featuring the “Saudi Fund for Development” logo in the middle of the dial can be found from the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

Hafiz Al-Hassad Signature (President of Syria)

Hafiz Al-Hassad (sometimes spelled “Hafez al-Assad”) was President of Syria from 1971-2000. Some Submariners and Explorer II’s can be seen with his signature on the dial.

Hawk of Quraish

The “Hawk of Quraish” is a famous emblem used in the Middle East, and particular Abu Dhabi. Hawk of Quraish dials, made for Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, usually have some red coloring like the example shown on the left, but the rarer “XL Hawk of Quraish” examples are printed in brown and tan.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Signature

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s signature also appears on some logo dials, including some desirable sports models. He has been the Vice President of the UAE since 2006, and he would’ve been in his early 20’s when the first Rolexes with his signature were made. Christie’s sold this GMT-Master for $162,500 in 2018:

Dubai Police

The emblem of the Dubai Police Force can be seen in bold red on some Rolex dials. Usually the logo is at the bottom of the dial but on some “XL” versions the logo takes up the entire middle of the dial:

UAE Air Force

Two variations of UAE Air Force logo dials exist. The version on the right is far more colorful:

UAE Armed Forces

Dials for the army of the UAE feature a golden bird spreading its wings around a circle of stars:

UAE General Command of Civil Defense (Police)

Most dials for the UAE General Command of Civil Defense (essentially a police force) are similar to the UAE army dials, except the bird is silver instead of gold, and the script underneath it is different. These silver birds exist on some Tudors, too. A rare white monochromatic version has also been found:

Abu Dhabi Defense Force

Two variants of Abu Dhabi Defense Force logo dials can be found. The version on the left predates the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. The militaries of Abu Dhabi and Dubai still operate separately during peacetime, so the Abu Dhabi Defense Force maintains its own logo, the modern version of which can be seen on the right:

Mohamad Ben Zayed Al Nahyan signature

Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, known as “MBZ,” is the current Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Note the slightly different spelling “Mohamad Ben Zayed Al Nahyan” on the dial. He has held these positions since 2004. He was born in 1961, so some of the Stella Day-Dates featuring his signature dials must’ve been made when he was about 10! This begs the question if the dials were made by his father, or if they were customized later, or if perhaps there’s a Mohamad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan other than the “MBZ” we know today. Regardless, these dials are worth a mention:

Mubarak Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan

Sheikh Mubarak Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan died in 2010. He was the first Interior Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and his signature dial can be found on some rare Rolexes as well:

Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan signature

Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan became President of the United Arab Emirates in 2004. When this Datejust ref. 1601 signature dial was made (1968) the UAE wasn’t even a country yet:

Unidentified Arabic signature

While we’ve done our best to identify every Rolex logo dial, some remain mysterious. If anyone recognizes this signature, please let us know in the comments:

United States Air Force Thunderbirds

The USAF Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Rolex provided them with some special Datejust Turn-O-Graph references with the Thunderbirds logo on the dial. Rolex referenced their relationship with the Thunderbirds in advertising repeatedly. Because of this connection, to this day the Rolex collector nickname for the Turn-O-Graphs is the “Thunderbird.”

US Naval Academy

Captain Jim Lovell was one of the first three astronauts to orbit the moon. He was also a part of the legendary Apollo 13 mission, and as of 2023, Captain Lovell is still alive. He has been seen sporting a GMT-Master ref. 1675 with the crest of the US Naval Academy on the dial:

Emblem of Yemen

Like some other Middle Eastern countries, Yemen uses eagle imagery in its coat of arms. However, the Emblem of Yemen has its own distinctive, stylized look:

Tudor: Continuing the Military Dial Tradition

While Rolex stopped their logo dial program in 2009 or so, Tudor has seemingly picked up where they left off. Although they don’t openly advertise a logo dial program, Tudor seems willing to make custom logo dials for anyone willing to buy at least 25-30 watches. Several government and military Tudor watches have been ordered with custom dials in recent years. Here are some examples:

Even as the watch market seems to be cooling from the heights of 2021 fervor, interest in special military/government watch dials seems to be growing overall. Time will tell if any of them can dethrone the Khanjar as the most popular Rolex government crest dial!

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