Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1966 Reference No: 1675 Movement No: 76‘571 Case No: 1’274’722; inside caseback stamped 1675, II.66 Model Name: GMT-Master Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 1560, 26 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel riveted Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “7206”, endlinks stamped “80”, max length 195mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “2.67” Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated 30th November 1966, Bulletin de marche certificate, 1966 calendar card, green card holder, purchase invoice, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
The GMT-Master has a long-standing history in watches made for aviation. As a brand known for its innovative and pioneering spirit, Rolex introduced the GMT-Master in 1954, designed to fit the needs of air pilots, ship captains, business travelers and members of the armed forces. Fitted with a bi-directional rotating bezel with 24-hour markings, the GMT-Master could simultaneously tell the time in two places, making it a perfect acquaintance as the world entered into the age of intercontinental travel.
In 1959, Rolex released an updated version of the GMT-Master with a more robust design – the ref. 1675 with a metallic bezel insert and Twinlock crown guards. Up until 1966, the ref. 1675 was produced with a glossy black dial.
The present example is fitted with the gilt dial variant and preserved in excellent condition and accompanied with its original guarantee, purchase invoice and accessories. The “Pepsi” bezel has developed into an attractive patina due to aging and maintains all its vintage charm, robustness and reliability. The GMT-Master is truly a timepiece that stands the test of time and a perfect companion for any occasion.
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.