The Rolex GMT-Master is simply one of the most iconic travel watches. It all started with a request from the Pan-Am airline for an innovative pilot’s watch: not just a readable pilot’s watch (there were many out there already), but one that was capable of displaying an extra time zone. Pan-Am inquired at Rolex, and they came up with the GMT-Master. The Rolex GMT-Master were not only popular amongst civil pilots: also NASA (like Jack Swigert of Apollo 13) and US Air Force pilots wore them, and over the years, people who travelled to different time zones for their jobs started logically wearing it.
In 1954, the first GMT-Master appeared with the reference 6542. It featured a bakelite bezel (replaced after two years by an aluminium one) and had no crown guards. The reference 6542 was in production till 1959. Introduced in 1959, the next reference 1675 has been in production till 1980. Till the late 1960s, the extra hour hand featured a small triangle and was succeeded by a red hand with a larger triangle through-out the 1970s. Early models also featured pointed crown guards and a chapter ring. It was also the first Rolex sports watch that became available on both the Oyster and Jubilee bracelets. In the very early 1980s, Rolex introduced the reference 16750, with a new movement (the caliber 3075, featuring a quick-set date, and an increasing ticking number of 28’800 vph). This model was in production till 1988.
The first Rolex GMT-Master II (reference 16760), with the functionality to read time of three different time zones, appeared in 1983. It had a thicker case, thicker crown guards, a sapphire crystal and was available exclusively with a “Coke” bezel (red/black). The reference 16750 was then replaced by the reference 16700 in 1989 produced until 2001. Rolex also introduced the reference 16710 (the successor of the 16760) in 1989. The reference 16710 went through a lot of changes from 1989 till 2007: it started with a tritium dial and ended with Luminova, the bracelet got solid end links, the pin-holes in the case disappeared, and it was available with three different bezels (black, red/black, red/blue). Also, in 2007, the movement was upgraded to the caliber 3186 (with the use of the Parachrom hairspring, fitted on M- and Z- serial numbers).
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The Rolex GMT-Master is simply one of the most iconic travel watches. It all started with a request from the Pan-Am airline for an innovative pilot’s watch: not just a readable pilot’s watch (there were many out there already), but one that was capable of displaying an extra time zone. Pan-Am inquired at Rolex, and they came up with the GMT-Master. The Rolex GMT-Master were not only popular amongst civil pilots: also NASA (like Jack Swigert of Apollo 13) and US Air Force pilots wore them, and over the years, people who travelled to different time zones for their jobs started logically wearing it.
In 1954, the first GMT-Master appeared with the reference 6542. It featured a bakelite bezel (replaced after two years by an aluminium one) and had no crown guards. The reference 6542 was in production till 1959. Introduced in 1959, the next reference 1675 has been in production till 1980. Till the late 1960s, the extra hour hand featured a small triangle and was succeeded by a red hand with a larger triangle through-out the 1970s. Early models also featured pointed crown guards and a chapter ring. It was also the first Rolex sports watch that became available on both the Oyster and Jubilee bracelets. In the very early 1980s, Rolex introduced the reference 16750, with a new movement (the caliber 3075, featuring a quick-set date, and an increasing ticking number of 28’800 vph). This model was in production till 1988.
The first Rolex GMT-Master II (reference 16760), with the functionality to read time of three different time zones, appeared in 1983. It had a thicker case, thicker crown guards, a sapphire crystal and was available exclusively with a “Coke” bezel (red/black). The reference 16750 was then replaced by the reference 16700 in 1989 produced until 2001. Rolex also introduced the reference 16710 (the successor of the 16760) in 1989. The reference 16710 went through a lot of changes from 1989 till 2007: it started with a tritium dial and ended with Luminova, the bracelet got solid end links, the pin-holes in the case disappeared, and it was available with three different bezels (black, red/black, red/blue). Also, in 2007, the movement was upgraded to the caliber 3186 (with the use of the Parachrom hairspring, fitted on M- and Z- serial numbers).
The model presented here is in almost perfect mint condition. It shows very slight signs of wear, that the actual owner (who is actually the very first owner of the watch since 2007) has chosen not to polish. The Watch Score is 9.6.
The watch is presented with a complete full set with all its accessories (including not only box and papers but also tags, invoices, calendars…), which which combined with the fact that the watch has never changed owner leads to an Extra Score of + 1.0.
Our WATCHFID Global Rating is 10.6.
The purpose of this document is to determine whether the constituent parts of the watch are conform to the model reference /period or not, and to value their condition and importance.
All the watches are provided with a digital certificate (the Watchfid-ID), that will be uploaded on your protected and anonymous digital wallet.
This document presents each watch in the most objective and detailed manner possible, thanks to a substantiated analysis, high-resolution photos designed to highlight all elements of the watch and an innovative rating system. Available in printed and digital versions.
On request and when available, an extract of the archives from the manufacturer can be obtained.
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