.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Predominantly made in stainless steel, examples of the early generation GMT-Master cased in gold are exceedingly rare. The present reference 6542 is a particularly charismatic representative of this celebrated model, preserved in overall excellent original condition.
The most notable feature is its unrestored, burgundy brown-coloured so-called "exclamation" dial with gold printing, characterized by an additional luminous dot positioned underneath the 6 o'clock hour marker. These dials are extremely rare and to the best of our knowledge it is the first time ever that a yellow gold reference 6542 is offered publicly for sale. In fact, scholars assume that the first batch of references 6542 created an issue with the US Atomic Energy Commission which contended the level of radiation coming off this model. Consequently, a recall of these watches concerned was launched and, upon rectifying the issue, the dials were marked with a small dot below the six o'clock marker, jointly resembling an exclamation mark. Watches produced after this matter was revealed were either fitted with an "underline" or, as for all future generations, with the "Swiss T<25" indicating that tritium was used, visibly reassuring consumers that any health risk was banned.
The case, never exposed to careless polishing, impresses any beholder with its full body, sharp angles to the facets of the lugs and the crisp gold mark. It furthermore retains the original bakelite bezel in very good condition, correct hands and crown, magnified lens for the date and the gold Rolex Oyster bracelet from the same period.
The overall look is striking with one of the most beautiful colour contrasts ever achieved on any post war wristwatch. Its sporty yet not bulky proportions let it shine on any gentleman collectors' wrist... not to forget a lady collectors' wrist!
GMT-Master
Due to the extraordinary success of the Rolex Sports models in the 1950s, it came to no surprise when the world's largest airline Pan Am commissioned a specially designed watch allowing their pilots to keep track of time in two locations.
With the beginning of transatlantic flights with jet aircrafts in 1956, travellers appreciated the fact that the journey times were reduced from 13 hours to 7 but suffered from new phenomena, the jet lag. Worried about the possible effects on their pilots and, after researches, Pan Am management advised them to keep on "home" time while away from base. As at the same time they needed to know the local time, a joint Pan Am and Rolex task force was assigned. The team devised a watch with an additional hour hand, which revolved once every 24 hours, and a rotating bezel marked with those same 24 hours. The model was named "G.M.T.-Master" after the world's standard time, the Greenwich Mean Time.
The first GMT model, reference 6542, was launched in 1954 and was immediately recognizable by the bright acrylic or bakelite bezel insert with the twenty-four hour markings printed to its underside. This material was chosen to reduce reflection which would disturb the pilots. The bezel ring was also made of acrylic and coated in an alloy to resemble metal. It then turned out that the flexibility of this material could cause the bezel insert to break and that in very warm environments the printing would often flake off. Consequently, Rolex decided to replace the acrylic insert against a more resistant metal version.
Mainly cased in stainless steel, the few examples of the early GMT Master series in gold and with the original bakelite bezel, such as the present watch, are highly coveted trophies for the avid collector.
The most notable feature is its unrestored, burgundy brown-coloured so-called "exclamation" dial with gold printing, characterized by an additional luminous dot positioned underneath the 6 o'clock hour marker. These dials are extremely rare and to the best of our knowledge it is the first time ever that a yellow gold reference 6542 is offered publicly for sale. In fact, scholars assume that the first batch of references 6542 created an issue with the US Atomic Energy Commission which contended the level of radiation coming off this model. Consequently, a recall of these watches concerned was launched and, upon rectifying the issue, the dials were marked with a small dot below the six o'clock marker, jointly resembling an exclamation mark. Watches produced after this matter was revealed were either fitted with an "underline" or, as for all future generations, with the "Swiss T<25" indicating that tritium was used, visibly reassuring consumers that any health risk was banned.
The case, never exposed to careless polishing, impresses any beholder with its full body, sharp angles to the facets of the lugs and the crisp gold mark. It furthermore retains the original bakelite bezel in very good condition, correct hands and crown, magnified lens for the date and the gold Rolex Oyster bracelet from the same period.
The overall look is striking with one of the most beautiful colour contrasts ever achieved on any post war wristwatch. Its sporty yet not bulky proportions let it shine on any gentleman collectors' wrist... not to forget a lady collectors' wrist!
GMT-Master
Due to the extraordinary success of the Rolex Sports models in the 1950s, it came to no surprise when the world's largest airline Pan Am commissioned a specially designed watch allowing their pilots to keep track of time in two locations.
With the beginning of transatlantic flights with jet aircrafts in 1956, travellers appreciated the fact that the journey times were reduced from 13 hours to 7 but suffered from new phenomena, the jet lag. Worried about the possible effects on their pilots and, after researches, Pan Am management advised them to keep on "home" time while away from base. As at the same time they needed to know the local time, a joint Pan Am and Rolex task force was assigned. The team devised a watch with an additional hour hand, which revolved once every 24 hours, and a rotating bezel marked with those same 24 hours. The model was named "G.M.T.-Master" after the world's standard time, the Greenwich Mean Time.
The first GMT model, reference 6542, was launched in 1954 and was immediately recognizable by the bright acrylic or bakelite bezel insert with the twenty-four hour markings printed to its underside. This material was chosen to reduce reflection which would disturb the pilots. The bezel ring was also made of acrylic and coated in an alloy to resemble metal. It then turned out that the flexibility of this material could cause the bezel insert to break and that in very warm environments the printing would often flake off. Consequently, Rolex decided to replace the acrylic insert against a more resistant metal version.
Mainly cased in stainless steel, the few examples of the early GMT Master series in gold and with the original bakelite bezel, such as the present watch, are highly coveted trophies for the avid collector.