Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1978 Reference No: 1675 Movement No: D361972 Case No: 5'204'495 Model Name: GMT-Master Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1570, 26 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster Jubilee bracelet, endlinks stamped 50, max overall length 220mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex USA deployant clasp Dimensions: 39mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex Service Guarantee dates 02/02/2021 and Bucherer Geneva invoice, further accompanied by Rolex travel pouch.
Catalogue Essay
Rolex’s ref. 1675 GMT-Master is not only an iconic model from Rolex but has become a blueprint for many GMT watches produced subsequently.
It was introduced in 1959 to succeed the earlier reference 6542 and featured a more robust design thanks to a metallic aluminum bezel insert and the presence of crown guards, a feature appearing on most Rolex sport timepieces. While early examples featured “glossy” black lacquered dials which preceded the introduction of matte dials, the new reference presented a “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” designation at 6 o’clock. Furthermore, a larger arrowhead for the 24-hour hand was introduced beginning in the late 1960s on matte dial examples.
In production for more than 20 years, this model was famously used by pilots around the world.
The present example features nice thick lugs and crisp bevels.The black bezel insert is original, and the perfectly intact luminous hour markers have aged to a pleasing cream color giving the watch an elegant charisma and vintage appeal. It is fitted with a very elegant Jubilee bracelet.
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.
