In this feature courtesy of our friends at WatchTime Middle East, Dubai-based Christie’s watch specialist Remi Guillemin traces the evolution of the Rolex GMT-Master ?the iconic Rolex dual-time watch and among the most collectible models to date ? through six important references.
Developed during the 1950s, the Rolex GMT-Master exemplifies the extraordinary success achieved by Rolex sport models. Among the most collectible timepieces to date, the GMT-Master was born when the now defunct Pan Am, at the time the world?s largest airline, commissioned Rolex to create a specifically designed watch that allowed its pilots to keep track of time in two locations.
Named after the abbreviation for Greenwich Mean Time, the Rolex GMT-Master was developed with an additional hour hand, revolving once every 24 hours, and a revolving bezel graduated for 24 hours. Throughout the years, reliability and quality of manufacturing led the GMT-Master to international fame, enabling it to become one of the most cherished Rolex wristwatches for the novice as well as the experienced collector. Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 6542
Rolex GMT-Master Ref 6542
Introduced in 1954, Reference 6542 was the first GMT-Master wristwatch and originated from a regular Rolex Turn-O-Graph Reference 6202, with a modified bezel and movement. The timepiece featured a bright acrylic or bakelite bezel insert with 24 hour markings printed on its underside and divided into red and blue sectors. The wristwatch was...