Gamal Abdel Nasser's gold watch, gifted by Sadat, was displayed at an American auction

The incident was the subject of widespread controversy at the end of 2024 after the gold watch that Abdel Nasser owned, a Rolex, was offered for sale at the American Sothebys auction house.

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A gold watch belonging to Gamal Abdel Nasser, gifted by Sadat, was displayed at an American auction house

The watch holds a special place not only because of its connection to the late Egyptian leader, but also because it was a gift from another Egyptian president, Mohamed Anwar Sadat, in 1963, who was a close friend of Abdel Nasser.

Abdel Hamid Abdel Nasser wrote on his Facebook account on Saturday: “To whom it may concern, Gamal Khaled Abdel Nasser, my brother’s son, is a thief of my father’s watch, and the one who sold it in New York does not represent the family in any way.”

The watch was sold for about 840,000 US dollars in December 2024. It is made of 18-carat yellow gold, and on the back is engraved the name “Mr. Anwar Sadat” and the date “9-26-1963” in Arabic.

The watch was first introduced in 1956 as a pioneering model in the Rolex catalog, made of precious metals only. It was also distinguished by being the first watch to display the day and date in its entirety, and was also water-resistant. It was the favorite watch of celebrities, presidents, and business leaders.

This watch is the only thing outside any museum collection of the late president’s possessions, after his family donated all of his material possessions to a museum bearing his name.

In a letter before selling it, Abdel Nasser’s grandson wished that the watch would go to someone who appreciated the late leader’s legacy and his dedication to the pursuit of lasting freedom and peace in the region and beyond, thus spreading his legacy.