Rolex GMT-Master 1675

Considering its age, this watch is in near-mint condition. There is gentle patina on the dial, which remains very clean. The case lugs are very sharp, and the bracelet is in excellent condition with slight wear to the crown logo on the clasp.

First released in 1954, the GMT-Master was a joint effort by the watchmakers at Rolex and pilots at Pan American Airways. This resulted in the ref. 6542, which utilised the base movement and case from the Turn-o-Graph ref. 6202 (which developed into the Submariner) and modified it to include the now-famous 24-hour hand and two-colour bezel. Later models replaced the fragile bakelite bezel with an aluminium one, enlarged the case, and allowed the 12-hour hand to be independently set.

ROLEX

Known by many simply as "the Crown", Rolex has certainly done much to deserve its reputation. From its founding just over a century ago by a German immigrant in the UK, Rolex has grown to become an international behemoth, recognisable (and indeed visible) across the globe.

Compared to other modern watchmakers, Rolex is in the near-unique position where its vintage watches have developed an almost entirely distinct collector base. It's no surprise, however, given the diversity and iconic status of so many Rolex models. The vintage Rolex community has arguably brought vintage watch collecting into the mainstream by shedding light on the beauty of old, worn watches which had so long been ignored by most.