Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1980 Reference No: 16758 Case No: 6’516’592 Model Name: GMT-Master Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic cal. 1520, 26 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Yellow gold-plated stainless steel buckle Dimensions: 39mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
While the GMT-Master model was born as an absolute tool watch, Rolex soon began to manufacture examples in precious metal for a lavish touch. Cased in 18K yellow gold, the present timepiece is a representative of the “luxury evolution” of the GMT-Master series.
The present watch features the coveted “nipple dial”, the nickname deriving from the shape of the dot indexes. The deep gold hue of the case is magnificent, and the copper brown dial is masterfully executed. This alternation of warm gold tones and dark brown hues impart to the timepiece a remarkable aesthetics and perfect legibility.
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.