Rajendra Prasad — watch collection

About Rajendra Prasad’s watch collection

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was one of the most consequential figures in modern Indian history. A lawyer, independence activist, and statesman, he served as the President of the Indian National Congress during the independence movement and played a central role in drafting the Indian Constitution as its assembly president. On January 26, 1950, he was sworn in as the first President of the Republic of India, a position he held for two full terms until 1962 — the longest tenure of any Indian president. In 1962, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. His legacy is inseparable from the founding of modern India.

The Rajendra Prasad watch collection, as documented in our database, currently contains one piece — but it is among the most historically significant wristwatches ever produced on the Indian subcontinent. On Republic Day, January 26, 1950, Dr. Prasad received a bespoke 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual commissioned specifically to mark the moment India became a constitutional republic. The dial features a cartographic depiction of the Indian subcontinent set against a deep navy background, framed by Arabic numerals, with an inscription referencing Republic Day and the date. Rolex produced exactly two examples of this commission; the second was made for Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

What makes this piece remarkable beyond its materials is its context. This was not a retail purchase or a brand endorsement — it was a diplomatic and ceremonial object, produced in a pair, to mark a singular moment in world history. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual was already an established tool watch by 1950, known for its reliability and sealed case, but this commission transformed the reference into something closer to a state artifact. For collectors and historians alike, the Prasad example represents one of the most traceable and document-backed watches ever tied to a sitting head of state.