Favre-Leuba Genève Martyrs of Qadisiyyat Saddam 1980

Among the more unusual Iraqi presidential presentation watches is this Favre-Leuba Genève, distinguished by a dial created specifically around its historical provenance rather than a conventional commercial design. The 26mm gold-plated case frames a champagne dial set with diamond hour markers, together with a portrait of President Saddam Hussein and Arabic inscription referring to the martyrs of Qadisiyyat Saddam, giving the piece a particularly distinctive identity from the period. A discreet date display at 6 o’clock completes the layout. Presented on a classic black leather strap, the combination of gold tones, diamonds and personalized Iraqi imagery gives this small-format Swiss watch a surprisingly strong presence. Produced as part of the presidential gift tradition of the Saddam Hussein era, it survives today as a rare historical collectible connecting Swiss watchmaking with a highly specific chapter of Iraqi history.