In 1836, thousands of years after falling to Earth, meteorites were found in Nimibia, Africa, near the town of Gibeon. Today, the Gibeon meteorite shower is considered the most extensive meteorite shower on Earth. Until their “discovery,” local people had been using the meteorites to make spear points and other weapons.

Found at the dawn of the Victorian Era, Gibeon meteorites drew the curiosity of British royalty, mineralogists and geologists, but pieces soon entered private hands.

A Rolex Diamond and Gold President Watch with a dial made of slices of Gibeon meteorite is featured in Heritage Auctions’ Watches & Fine Timepieces Signature® Auction scheduled for December 2009. “The crystallization of the taenite and kamacite minerals in the Gibeon meteorite is said to have taken place more than 4 billion years ago,” says James Wolf, Heritage’s director of watches and timepieces.

Although manufactured less than three years ago, the watch remains popular. “The Rolex President model was introduced in 1956 and has become synonymous with class and style across the world,” Wolf says. “This model has undergone many structural and internal improvements over the years yet the ‘look’ has not changed dramatically. This newly introduced meteorite model with the diamond lugs offers a fresh look on this classic timepiece while  still holding to the ever-popular ‘Presidential’ design of the past.”