914
Rolex
Ref. 1675
GMT-Master "Tropical MK III"
A very rare and attractive stainless steel dual-time wristwatch with center seconds, date, gilt tropical dial, bracelet, blank guarantee and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
- Non-chapter-ring Mark III gilt dial
- Has developed an attractive dark tropical hue
- Faded “Pepsi” bezel which adds to the vintage allure
- Comes with a blank guarantee, a punched COSC and box
This specific piece features a non-chapter ring Mark III gilt dial, representing the last chapter of the gilt era before Rolex transitioned to matte dials with white text. Adding to its uniqueness, the dial displays the “Wide Swiss” variant, where the “Swiss T < 25” signature extends across the bottom five minute markers—an uncommon detail even among its peers.
What is even more intriguing is the transition of the dial from black to brown—a characteristic of “tropical dials”—has captivated collectors with its unpredictable beauty.
The present example, dating to circa 1966, features the upgraded cal. 1570 and belongs to one of the last iterations of the “glossy” gilt dials before the shift to matte dials. Its remarkably appealing “tropical” dial, with a rich brown hue and warm buttery lume plots, is sure to enchant collectors. Additionally, the "Pepsi" bezel has aged to a dark pink and blue, further emphasizing its vintage allure.
This timepiece also includes a period correct blank guarantee and a punched COSC certificate, making it an exceptionally rare find in the market.
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.