222
Rolex
Ref. 6542
GMT-Master
A exceptional, fine and very rare yellow gold dual time wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, bakelite bezel, Garantie and Bureaux Suisses de Contrôle Officiel Watch Rate Certificate
- Estimate
- HK$1,040,000 - 1,440,000
HK$1,480,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1958
- Reference No
- 6542
- Movement No
- N782302
- Case No
- 367'463
- Model Name
- GMT-Master
- Material
- 18k yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, 1065, 25 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Brown suede leather strap
- Clasp/Buckle
- 14k <em>Rolex</em> buckle stamped <em>Rolex SA</em>
- Dimensions
- 38 mm. diameter
- Signed
- <em>Case, dial and movement signed</em>
- Accessories
- With <em>Rolex</em> Garanzia dated 23 December 1962, Bureaux Suisses de Contrôle Officiel de la Marche des Montres dated 18 October 1960 and fitted presentation box.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The first GMT model, reference 6542, was launched in 1954. The early models are distinguished by their bright acrylic or bakelite bezel insert. This material was used to reduce reflection while being worn by pilots.
The majority of reference 6542 are cased in stainless steel, very few examples are found in gold. It is rare for these early examples to be found with their original bakelite bezel inserts and are today highly sought after by collectors.
The present watch is one of the exceptionally rare 18k yellow gold examples. Offered in outstanding original condition, the case has beautifully beveled edges, crisp case and reference numbers, extremely sharp hallmarks, crisp milled band to the case back and original bakelite insert, which is free of any cracks or blemishes. The original bronze coloured dial is in a perfect state of preservation with white graphics, original small tipped dual time hand and luminous 'alpha' hands and numerals, which have aged in a very charismatic way.
Completed with its Garantie and Watch Rate Certificate, this superlative chronometer is officially certified in every conceivable way.
The majority of reference 6542 are cased in stainless steel, very few examples are found in gold. It is rare for these early examples to be found with their original bakelite bezel inserts and are today highly sought after by collectors.
The present watch is one of the exceptionally rare 18k yellow gold examples. Offered in outstanding original condition, the case has beautifully beveled edges, crisp case and reference numbers, extremely sharp hallmarks, crisp milled band to the case back and original bakelite insert, which is free of any cracks or blemishes. The original bronze coloured dial is in a perfect state of preservation with white graphics, original small tipped dual time hand and luminous 'alpha' hands and numerals, which have aged in a very charismatic way.
Completed with its Garantie and Watch Rate Certificate, this superlative chronometer is officially certified in every conceivable way.
Literature
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.
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