The Inspiration of the Destinations "Khanjar"
In the early 2000s, Singapore’s then Foreign Minister, Mr. George Yeo was informed of a salvaged shipwreck, the “黑石号”, or "Belitung Shipwreck", discovered some 500 miles south of Singapore. Amongst the most treasured artifacts lay blue-and white porcelain, adorned with Taoist, Buddhist, Islamic and Central Asian motifs, pointing to a provenance deeply entwined with the era of the Maritime Silk Road. Subsequent studies determined that the vessel itself was very likely built centuries earlier in the Omani coast, where the distinctive square-stitching technique is still used for traditional dhow-building in Sur today.
The Belitung wreck is the first discovered Arab dhow from the 9th century. And as noted on the map, Oman was a major western hub for the Maritime Silk Road. Ships would depart from Oman, sail across the Indian Ocean, and navigate through Southeast Asia (possibly through Singapore) to reach Tang Dynasty China (such as the port of Guangzhou or Yangzhou) to trade.
History Embodied in Design
The Destinations “Khanjar” embodies the dual-time complication, enabling the simultaneous tracking of two time zones. This choice of function is inspired by our imagination of the Silk Road era, where such a capability on the wrist would have been deemed invaluable to traders and travelers navigating distant lands and cultures.
Middle East Meets East
As a tribute to the Arabian lineage of the Omani Khanjar, the main time zone is displayed in Eastern Arabian numerals (12-hour), while the secondary time zone is expressed in Chinese numerals (24-hour).
The Brass (in Umbra) and Porcelain (in Blue and White) also represents recalls the voyages of Arabian sailors, venturing toward distant lands with precious metals and intricate metalwork in exchange for porcelain and ceramics that carried China’s legacy across the tides of history.
A Distinct Construction
Similar to the construction of the dhow, rather than a traditional one piece case construction, the lugs are separately manufactured and finished, and subsequently attached to the case as a two-part construction. This is to heighten the finishing achievable on the smallest of parts.
Cultural Transference
From the ancient shipyards of Sur to the extraordinary craft of imperial China, the maritime route once carried legends and stories about unknown civilizations and cultures across oceans. Through the Destinations GMT “Khanjar” Edition, we want to relive that same spirit of exchange - not in cargo, but in culture.
This collection is our tribute to the meaningful connections established in the golden era of trade, and our pledge to ensure that the legacy of the Khanjar watches remains to inspire, endure, and shine across time.
Caseback Engraving Options
Option 1: "One of XXX"
Option 2: "XXX of XXX"
