SOURCE: Melrose Jewelers

 

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - January 5, 2009) - Melrose Jewelers Reports that Saddam Hussein's Rolex Day Date President is to be auctioned with a $150,000 starting price. Before being deposed by American forces and executed by his people, Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein was known for his love of luxury, clearly represented by his custom-made, diamond-studded gold Rolex watch. Unlike the majority of Hussein's loot, the Rolex watch did not end up in the hands of the American military. Instead, Saddam's right-hand man Haitham Wahaib is putting the Rolex up for auction, along with other valuables, in order to raise $450,000 for Iraqi schools. But how did Wahaib end up with the Rolex in the first place? Although his tale appears incredulous on the surface, it is worth repeating. As reported by Mark Nicol in The Daily Mail, the story is as follows:

This article, by John Lavitt, can be viewed in its entirety at the free MJ Rolex Watch Blog at: http://www.melrosejewelers.com/rolex-watch-blog/saddam-hussein’s-rolex-to-be-auctioned-15000-opening-price/ or at the Melrose Jewelers Rolex watch website at http://www.melrosejewelers.com.

It was the most lucrative day's work that Haitham Wihaib will ever do. His boss Saddam Hussein had just spent hours in a Baghdad palace with one of his many mistresses. As the Iraqi dictator emerged and headed towards his chauffeur-driven Mercedes, it was Wihaib's job -- as his head of protocol -- to check that he had not left anything behind. "To my surprise I saw his £100,000 gold Rolex sitting on a bedside table," recalled Wihaib. "I ran after Saddam and stopped him just before he got in the car. I said, 'Your Excellency, your Excellency, you left your gold Rolex behind.' When he turned to me, I had never seen such a satisfied look on his face. He had clearly had a very pleasurable afternoon. He smiled and told me to keep it."

The custom-made Rolex has dozens of diamonds laid into the watch face and the bracelet. At the very pinnacle of luxury, the watch represents the incredible quality and precision of the Rolex watchmakers. The Daily Mail confirmed that the watch is genuine and the valuation is accurate. Long before the Iraq war that led to Saddam's fall, Haitham Wihaib had a bad falling out with his master and was imprisoned. After being released, he managed to smuggle his collection of Saddam's valuables out of Iraq and defect to Great Britain in 1994. Although he worked for the dictator for over twenty years and was his chief of protocol, Wihaib has never worn the gold Rolex given to him by the Iraqi dictator. In regards to his hiding of the watch, Wihaib said: "All Saddam's bodyguards were very jealous so I never wore the Rolex in Iraq. They would have chopped my arm off for such a watch."

In closing, it is fascinating to note that Saddam's regime often altered expensive Rolex watches with faceplates depicting the leader. Amazing as it sounds, these symbols of Western power and affluence were greatly admired by members of the anti-Western Ba'ath party or so the story goes. Although Saddam Hussein would deface a Rolex watch given to his supporters, the authenticity of his own custom-made Rolex was kept and maintained. It will be intriguing for Rolex enthusiasts to see how high the price goes for Saddam's jewel-encrusted Rolex watch.

About Melrose Jewelers:

Melrose Jewelers sells nearly 400 styles of Rolex watches on its website along with brands including Cartier, Omega, Breitling and Audemars Piguet. Melrose Jewelers is a member of the NAWCC (National Association of Watch Collectors) and the MJSA (Manufacturers & Jewelers Association of America) and supports law enforcement through its Platinum Membership with the California Sheriff's Association. Melrose Jewelers is not an authorized agent or affiliated with Rolex USA, Rolex S.A., or Rolex International. Rolex Datejust, Rolex Oyster Perpetual, Rolex Day Date President and Presidential, Rolex Oyster, Rolex Submariner, Rolex GMT Master, & Rolex Daytona are trademarks of Rolex USA. All Rolex watches offered by Melrose Jewelers are Preowned; no new Rolex watches are available from Melrose Jewelers. Melrose Jewelers warranties its watches solely through its store. Rolex USA has no obligation to service watches sold by Melrose Jewelers.

About the Melrose Jewelers Rolex Watch Blog:

The Melrose Jewelers (MJ) Rolex Watch Blog is the world's largest independent news website about Rolex events and Rolex in pop culture. With over 300 articles and new articles and commentary updated daily, the Melrose Jewelers Rolex watch blog contains articles about Rolex watches owned by Barack Obama, John McCain, Jessica Simpson, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Brad Pitt, Vince McMahon, Rita Hayworth, Benicio Del Toro, The Dalai Lama, Zara Phillips, Saddam Hussein, O.J. Simpson, Guy Ritchie, Madonna, Ana Ivanovic, Matt Damon, Genki Sudo, Drew Barrymore, DJ Am, Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Jay-Z, Ari Emanuel, Jennifer Aniston, Orlando Bloom, Paris Hilton, Daniel Craig, Tupac Shakur and Wiley, all viewable at http://www.melrosejewelers.com/rolex-watch-blog/.

Melrose Jewelers has recently launched its Rolex website in Seoul, South Korea at http://www.melrosejewelers.co.kr.