Rolex - Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR Geneva Friday, November 11, 2016 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1969
    Reference No: 1675
    Movement No: D526'570
    Case No: 2'344'509
    Model Name: GMT-Master
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Automatic, Cal 1570, 26 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Gold plated pin buckle
    Dimensions: 39mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    With the GMT-Master, Rolex surprised the market with one of the first sports watches ever produced in solid gold. This unusual association between a tool watch and a precious metal helped to establish Rolex as the sporty and prestigious brand of excellence it still is today. Produced between 1959 and 1980, the reference 1675 was the second generation of the GMT-Master, and it was available in stainless steel, stainless steel and gold or all gold. The successor of reference 6542, the 1675 introduced crown guards and the famous “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” printing on the dial, proudly describing the precision timekeeper housed within. The present example in yellow gold features a rich chocolate dial with nipple-shaped, luminous hour markers and a matching brown bezel that provides a warm harmony of color together with the gold case. Ten important letters elevate this timepiece’s appeal and desirability: the name of the prestigious retailer ‘Tiffany & Co’ is inscribed in gold right above the model name making the present lot incredibly rare. The spectacular condition of this timepiece, with its untouched case, pristine dial, and original bezel offers exclusivity and great wearability and style for the collector of vintage Rolex sport watches.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.

    One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.

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Ref. 1675
A very rare and highly attractive yellow gold dual time wristwatch, retailed by Tiffany & Co.

1969
39mm. Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF25,000 - 40,000 
€23,000-36,700
$25,800-41,200

Sold for CHF55,000

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89

Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR

Geneva Auctions 12 – 13 November 2016