Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 2014 Reference No: 126719BLRO Movement No: 58DN8224 Case No: 217172A6 Model Name: GMT-Master II "Pepsi" Material: 18K white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3186, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K white gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 190mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Rolex deployant clasp stamped "6GF" Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex Guarantee dated November 24, 2014, product literature, wallet, presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
The GMT-Master is one of the most recognized and iconic timepieces ever designed. With a history stretching back over 60 years to the 1950s, it was devised as a tool watch designed in collaboration with Pan American Airlines so their pilots could keep track of both “home” and “local” times. Rolex introduced the GMT-Master, reference 6542 with fragile Bakelite bezel in 1955, and in 1959, they released the second-generation GMT-Master model with metal bezel, the reference 1675. The reference has been upgraded and modified throughout the years, until in in 2015 Rolex released the present ref. 126719BLRO with Ceramic Pepsi bezel, the first representative of the “new GMT” family which has today expanded with stainless steel, pink gold and two-tone versions. The Cerachrom bezel is the defining feature of this iteration; it boasts robustness, scratchproofness, and remarkable color fastness.
The present example is offered by its original owner and accompanied not only by all of its accessories, but furthermore by a remarkably rare blue dial, thus affording its lucky owner the opportunity to choose between two different looks.
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.