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Royal Abdulaziz Al Rasheed spotted wearing Vacheron Constantin

Dr. Abdulaziz Al Rasheed, the prominent Kuwaiti royal and acclaimed surgeon known for his global cultural presence, was recently photographed pointing directly at his wrist with unmistakable pride — and the cause for celebration is entirely justified. On his wrist sits one of only ten examples worldwide of the Vacheron Constantin Métiers d'Art Les Grandes Explorations dedicated to Vasco da Gama, executed in 18-karat pink gold with a grand feu enamel dial depicting Africa as rendered in 15th-century cartography.

The dial is the centrepiece and the watch's entire raison d'être. Executed by Vacheron Constantin's in-house enamel miniaturists in Geneva, the grand feu technique involves firing vitreous enamel pigments at temperatures exceeding 800°C in multiple successive layers, each firing risking irreversible cracking or colour distortion. The result here is a luminous, jewel-like reproduction of a portolan chart — replete with sailing ships, a camel caravan crossing the Sahara, compass roses, and the bold legend 'AFRICA' across the continent. The pink gold case measures approximately 42mm, paired with a deep navy blue alligator strap that elegantly contrasts the warm gold and polychrome dial.

The Métiers d'Art Les Grandes Explorations collection was introduced to honour the Renaissance-era navigators who reshaped human understanding of the globe. Vasco da Gama's 1497–1499 voyage from Lisbon around the Cape of Good Hope to Calicut, India, opened the eastern sea route and fundamentally altered world trade. Vacheron Constantin chose him — alongside figures such as Magellan and Cook — as subjects worthy of the Maison's most exacting decorative arts. Each reference within the series is limited to a handful of pieces, often fewer than ten per explorer.

For collectors, this piece occupies a rarified intersection: grand feu enamel miniature painting, extreme limited edition (10 pieces), and one of the most historically prestigious manufacture names in watchmaking, founded in 1755. Vacheron Constantin has never interrupted production — the longest unbroken record in the industry. Pieces from the Métiers d'Art enamel series rarely appear at auction; when they do, they command significant premiums over retail.

At a retail price of $121,000 USD, this is not a watch purchased casually. For Dr. Al Rasheed, a figure whose taste in horology is well-documented across his social platforms, it represents a deliberate curatorial choice — history, craft, and rarity distilled onto a wrist.