830
Rolex
Ref. 1675, repeated inside caseback
GMT-Master
A very early, rare and attractive yellow gold dual-time wristwatch with center seconds, date, no crown guards and glossy brown dial
- Estimate
- HK$150,000 - 230,000€17,600 - 26,900$19,200 - 29,500
HK$381,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1963
- Reference No
- 1675, repeated inside caseback
- Movement No
- D27’381
- Case No
- 900’057
- Model Name
- GMT-Master
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1560, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Gold plated unsigned pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 39mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial and movement signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Replacing the first generation of the GMT-Master ref. 6542, Rolex introduced the ref. 1675 in 1959. This reference featured an upgraded metallic bezel, replacing the delicate bakelite bezel, and enhanced its case design by incorporating crown guards for improved protection of the crown. Designed as a tool watch for pilots to keep track of various time zones during their travels, the majority of production was encased in stainless steel, making gold examples extremely rare and desirable.
Early yellow gold examples of the ref. 1675 differ from their stainless steel counterparts by lacking crown guards, which were added a few years later. The present example features a desirable glossy MK I brown dial, easily distinguished by the hyphen between “OYSTER–PERPETUAL” and the “SWISS” only designation at 6 o’clock, a feature unique to this variant. Complementing the dial are the attractive leaf hands, also found only in early examples, which pair beautifully with the iconic “nipple” dial.
Extremely well-preserved and offered in excellent overall condition, the dark brown metallic bezel insert adds to the watch's appeal. With a tremendous presence on the wrist, this example is undoubtedly one of the most collectible GMT-Masters to appear in recent times.
Early yellow gold examples of the ref. 1675 differ from their stainless steel counterparts by lacking crown guards, which were added a few years later. The present example features a desirable glossy MK I brown dial, easily distinguished by the hyphen between “OYSTER–PERPETUAL” and the “SWISS” only designation at 6 o’clock, a feature unique to this variant. Complementing the dial are the attractive leaf hands, also found only in early examples, which pair beautifully with the iconic “nipple” dial.
Extremely well-preserved and offered in excellent overall condition, the dark brown metallic bezel insert adds to the watch's appeal. With a tremendous presence on the wrist, this example is undoubtedly one of the most collectible GMT-Masters to appear in recent times.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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.
Browse Maker