6542 rolex gmt

First introduced inthe now vintage Rolex GMT-Master, the reference GMT-Master was developed after Pan-Am Airlines made a request for a reliable watch that could simultaneously display two time zones for use on transatlantic flights, 6542 rolex gmt. By simply rotating the bezel to correspond with the difference in time, the GMT-Master could display a secondary time 6542 rolex gmt with its hour hand and the accompanying hour markings on the bezel.

A tool watch through and through, the GMT-Master was made specifically for commercial airline pilots. And not just any airline, but the reigning airline of the day, Pan Am. As pilots were traveling greater distances they flew over several time zones and encountered a new phenomenon known as jet lag. Pam Am realized that their pilots would need a way to keep track of two time zones simultaneously and called on Rolex to build them a special watch. There are several key design elements to the GMT-Master that not only made the watch super practical for pilots but also made it instantly recognizable.

6542 rolex gmt

Sorry, we are unable to display this content. Please check your connection. You have agreed to be bound by the Conditions of Sale and if your bid is successful, you are legally obliged to pay for the lot you have won. A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale. Clients are required to upload proof of identity documents in order to bid in this sale. Important: Please ensure you have read and understood the Buyers Premium Schedule prior to registering for the sale. Visit the pages of the lots you wish to place an absentee bids. Christie's Dubai Ltd. Brought to you by. The original Ref. These bezels were brittle in nature and were replaced aluminium-insert versions during routine service. Also concerns around the use of radium meant Rolex stopped production of bakelite bezels very quickly. A Ref. Today, spotting a Ref. More from.

Paul Altieri is a trusted and recognized authority in the watch industry with a proven track record of expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.

After doing this job for over seven years now, attending every major auction, every major trade show and meeting many of the major collectors around the world, I think it's fair to say that it takes a lot to get me going these days. For example, in total honesty, there was one watch — one — that got me genuinely excited at Baselworld this year. None at SIHH. That's not to say there weren't many great introductions at both — there certainly were and you can see them here and here , but I'm talking about watches that I found truly thrilling, on a personal level. Today, thanks to a visit from a friend from Japan, I can show you one that absolutely is, and while it has, in its day, raised a few eyebrows, it's a watch I would love to own. I am talking about a Rolex GMT-Master, the very first reference with the famous bakelite bezel, but one of only a small handful known with a white dial. Yup, let's go hands-on with the mythical albino GMT.

However, aside from its functionality, the design of the bezel also contributes significantly to the style of the Rolex GMT-Master — particularly when it is in a two-tone colorway. While the fundamental look of the GMT-Master bezel has remained relatively unchanged over the last six decades, there have been important changes to the materials used. Given those characteristics, Bakelite was initially considered a good material choice for the bezel insert for the GMT-Master watch. However, it was soon apparent that Bakelite was too brittle and had a tendency to crack — plus the radioactive glowing numerals set into it also posed a potential health hazard. Therefore, Rolex switched over to non-luminous aluminum bezel inserts for later GMT-Master models in the late s. Furthermore, Rolex service centers also typically replaced any broken Bakelite bezels with aluminum ones. As a result, it is incredibly difficult to find a vintage GMT-Master with its original Bakelite bezel today. Rolex opted to bring the two colors together to make it easier for pilots to differentiate between night and day hours for reference time — the red portion contained the daylight hours while the blue section had the nighttime ones.

6542 rolex gmt

However, aside from its functionality, the design of the bezel also contributes significantly to the style of the Rolex GMT-Master — particularly when it is in a two-tone colorway. While the fundamental look of the GMT-Master bezel has remained relatively unchanged over the last six decades, there have been important changes to the materials used. Rolex has made an assortment of different bezels for the GMT-Master over the decades. The timeline below outlines the approximate debut dates of each of the different types of Rolex GMT-Master bezels. When Rolex unveiled the first GMT-Master reference in the mids, the watch came equipped with a bidirectional rotating bezel with a two-tone Bakelite insert featuring radium luminous markings. Given those characteristics, Bakelite was initially considered a good material choice for the bezel insert of the GMT-Master watch. However, it was soon apparent that Bakelite was too brittle and had a tendency to crack — plus the radioactive glowing numerals embedded into it also posed a potential health hazard. Therefore, Rolex switched over to non-luminous aluminum bezel inserts for later GMT-Master models in the late s. Furthermore, Rolex service centers also typically replaced any damaged Bakelite bezels with aluminum ones.

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The bezel is cracked at 18 and 22 and well as with hairlines in other places. Yup, let's go hands-on with the mythical albino GMT. The hour hand and the traditional hour hand were directly linked. Production of the reference GMT-Master lasted only about six years; and by , Rolex had already introduced an update to their GMT-Master line of watches in the form of the reference You may think you've just uncovered the almighty vintage Rolex sport watch, but until the global thought-leaders agree a watch is real, it's just not. Thus, the wearer would set his local time on the main dial and then adjust the bezel to line up with the GMT hand accordingly to correctly indicate his second-time zone. Bob's Watches Blog Updates Sign up and be the first to read exclusive articles and the latest horological news. The story is that the watch came from New York, and his father placed it into a prominent private collection where it remained for many years, always with the stipulation that if this gentleman ever decided to part with this one of a small few correct Albino GMT's that it would go back to the man who sold it to him. Most obvious among the unique traits of the reference are its lack of crown guards and smaller case diameter. Cost calculator. Now the case and the bezel on this are practically deserving of stories on their own, as both are in remarkably preserved condition for a watch of this age. However, because reference was heavily based on the reference Turn-O-Graph, its case was slightly smaller in diameter, and lacked crown guards completely. Stefano had come across a watch that, in his mind, was indisputably original. Part of the index at 6 has lost material.

Being the first reference to feature a new material or complication is not necessarily enough to create a demand in the vintage market; however being the first reference of highly successful model will certainly stir up some interest among collectors.

Paul Altieri is a trusted and recognized authority in the watch industry with a proven track record of expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence. Still, five years on, Stefano's post has become gospel for the white dial GMTs. More from. None at SIHH. Estimated Excise Duty. The bezel of the GMT-Master was marked with 24 hours and that, coupled with the extra hour hand on the dial, allowed the watch to display a second time-zone. This would eventually change where the GMT-Master would boast increased water resistance and crown guards were eventually introduced to future GMT-Master references. The case with good proportions, lugs are well shaped and balanced. For this reason, it's a pretty big deal when any of the grey areas becomes a little more black and white — hence the document we've got for you here today. You may also like. Please enter numbers only Amount must be higher than the starting bid Amount must be higher than the current bid. Paul is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the watch industry and e-commerce, and regularly engages with other professionals in the industry. That's not to say there weren't many great introductions at both — there certainly were and you can see them here and here , but I'm talking about watches that I found truly thrilling, on a personal level.