Vintage 1978 Alam Automatic Watch UAE Traffic Week Emblem Rainbow 25 Jewels 37mm

About this watch

A true piece of Emirati history: the dial is inscribed in Arabic "أسبوع المرور ١٩٧٨" ("Traffic Week 1978") beside the federal emblem of the United Arab Emirates. Only seven years after the UAE was founded in 1971, road-safety campaigns such as Traffic Week had become an important annual event; it later grew into the Gulf-wide GCC Traffic Week still held today.

The silver-white dial also carries the Alam logo in English and Arabic, "Automatic", "Rainbow 25 Jewels", applied baton markers and a day-date window at 3 o'clock, and is marked Made in Japan. The tonneau-style stainless steel case has a screw-down back marked "Water Resistant" and "Stainless Steel". Inside is an Alam-signed Japanese automatic movement. It is fitted on a black leather strap.

Brand heritage

Alam (Arabic for "flag" or "landmark") was a watch brand sold in the Gulf region with dials bearing its Arabic logo, powered by Japanese automatic movements from the golden era of 1970s Japanese watchmaking. Commemorative watches like this one were made in limited numbers for the occasion, and relatively few survive today.

Why this one is special

• UAE federal emblem and "Traffic Week 1978" Arabic inscription
• 25-jewel Japanese automatic with day-date
• Bold 1970s tonneau steel case
• Highly collectible piece of Gulf history

Specifications

• Brand / Model: Alam Rainbow
• Year: 1978 (dated dial)
• Movement: Japanese automatic, 25 jewels
• Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, day and date
• Case: stainless steel, tonneau shape, screw-down back
• Case size: 37 mm, approx. 9 mm thick
• Dial: silver-white with UAE emblem and Arabic inscription
• Strap: black leather, 18 mm

Condition

Very good vintage condition with light signs of age. Please check all photos carefully as they are part of the description.
Working at time of listing.

What's included

The watch on a black leather strap. Display box shown for presentation.

Shipping & Returns

Ships from Cairo, Egypt. Please see the shipping and returns details in this listing.