Pre-Owned Rolex GMT-Master Watches
The need for the ability to track several time zones at once was no greater than when air travel company Pan-Am began making trans-Atlantic journeys in the early 1940s. As such, Rolex was commissioned by Pan-Am to provide a solution to the problem, and that solution was the Rolex GMT Master.
Rolex GMT-Master Watches
The story of the Rolex GMT-Master began in the 1950s when Rolex and Pan Am collaborated to design a watch for the airline’s commercial pilots. Making its debut in 1955, the original GMT-Master introduced an additional hour hand that tracked a 24-hour rotating bezel, providing the means for pilots to track multiple time zones while helping them minimise the effects of jet-lag.
While this made it extremely useful for aviation professionals, it’s also the perfect choice for frequent travellers visiting different countries, or even non-travellers who want to monitor the time in a different part of the world at a mere glance.
As useful today as it’s ever been, a GMT function is now a relatively widespread complication in mechanical watchmaking, with many brands including at least one in their line-up.
The first Rolex GMT-Master to be released bore the reference number 6542. This first-generation model came with a red and blue Bakelite bezel insert, which wasn’t known for its durability, and featured no crown guards and a 38mm case, smaller than the 40mm GMT-Master II of today. It also boasted a magnified date window at 3 o’clock, a feature of all GMT-Masters.
Black dials were the most common and were the ones Pan-Am issued to its pilots. A rarer version with a white dial was issued to ground staff as opposed to air crew, with as few as 200 thought to have been made. There was also an 18k yellow-gold version of the 6542.
Later versions of the 6542 featured an aluminium bezel, and this improvement was carried over to the legendary Reference 1675, now regarded as the quintessential Rolex GMT-Master. Launched in 1960 and produced for 21 years, this watch is a staple among vintage collectors. It introduced a protective crown guard and added 1mm to the case size while also introducing a new movement.
The 1675 saw the GMT-Master adopt a variety of styles. By the early 1970s it was available on a Jubilee bracelet, as well as the Oyster type, and this decade saw the release of the first “Root beer” version, a two-tone yellow-gold and steel watch with a gold and brown bezel. As with the 6542, there was also an all gold version.
Two later notable references include the 16750—which was basically a renumbered 1675 but with a new movement—and the yellow-gold 16758 with black dial and black bezel.
All GMT-Master models came with a water resistance of 50 metres or, later, 100 metres, although as all these watches are now at least 25 years old, it would be unwise to wear them swimming as the rubber seals may not be as water-tight as they used to be.
Interestingly, the GMT-Master II didn’t immediately replace the GMT-Master. The latter was actually in production until the very end of the millennium, so both Rolex’s GMT models were being manufactured simultaneously for almost two decades.
Watchfinder’s diverse range of pre-owned Rolex GMT-Master watches covers all tastes and preferences. Discover your ideal Rolex GMT-Master today and add one of the industry’s most iconic and recognisable vintage timepieces to your collection.
