Today, Rolex is renowned for some of the most iconic and treasured “tool watches” of the 20th century with models such as the Submariner, Daytona, and GMT-Master. First released in 1954, the GMT-Master reference 6542 was designed for pilots, and travellers to use while traversing the globe. With the rise of international travel in the 1940s and 1950s, Rolex and Pan American Airlines realised the need for a timepiece that would allow pilots to keep track of dual time zone while traveling, and developed an ingenious design with Bakelite bezel with 24-hour luminous numerals, and secondary GMT hour hand on the dial. The reference 6542 was replaced in 1959 with the introduction of the GMT-Master reference 1675, now sporting a metal bezel replacing the fragile Bakelite bezel, and crown guards for added protection. The reference 1675 was in production until approximately 1980, with the majority produced in stainless steel. Like the ref. 6542 before it, luxurious 18 karat gold examples of the ref. 1675 were produced in exceedingly small quantities.

The present watch is without a doubt one of the most striking examples of this restricted gold production to ever resurface. It is well known that sometimes the paint used on watch dials changes color over time, giving rise to what is today known as a “tropical” dial. Brown tropical dials are well known from Rolex to appear on Daytona timepieces, with hues ranging from dark chocolate to terra di siena bruciata. On gold GMTs, some dials are known to sport a similar effect, with areas turning violet. The present example, however, sports an incredible even, dial-wide, iridescent purple/indigo/violet color - ranking this watch as one of the most appealing and collectible tropical gold 1675 to ever appear on the market.

The unusual and highly collectible bark-finished President bracelet is a more than deserved touch of additional finesse and collectability to this mind-blowing timepiece.