Succeeding the very first GMT-Master ref. 6542, Rolex released the ref. 1675 in 1959 featuring various upgrades from bearing crown guards to most notably swapping the previous delicate bakelite bezel insert to a metallic bezel insert. The GMT-Master ref. 1675 was one of the longest produced Rolex GMT-Master references enjoying a long production run of 21 years ending in 1980. Throughout its course of production, the reference featured many variations with early examples from 1959 – 1966 bearing glossy gilt dials before Rolex replaced them with matte dials after. Although, the very first matte dial examples appeared in 1964.
With various types of glossy gilt dials, the latest examples featured a “SWISS – T<25” on the bottom of the dial, such as the present example. Bearing a 1.2 million serial range, the present example from circa 1966 is one of the last to be fitted with a glossy gilt dial. Boasting a nice overall case with an attractive bezel insert that has faded over time, the vintage appeal is certainly heightened. Furthermore, a keen eye would notice the “armadillo” Portuguese hallmark stamped on the top left lug. Proving its originality, it is accompanied by its original Rolex guarantee stamped by Portuguese retailer Ourivesaria Lisboa dated 23rd May 1967.
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.
