Rolex
1969 Rolex GMT-Master (Ref. 1675) 18k YG
The Rolex GMT is the jet-setting icon of the Rolex sports watch family. The history of this sophisticated, versatile style dates back to 1954 when Rolex received a request from Pan Am to create a technical pilots watch that could indicate two time zones simultaneously. As advances in aviation made transcontinental flights commercially available Pan Am needed a watch that could be issued to their crews on the long-haul international flights.
GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time - the time zone which regulates world clocks and is required for all aviation planning and schedules. The Rolex GMT Master has a fourth 24-hour hand that directly displays the same time zone as the standard 12-hour hand but on a 24-hour scale. The addition of this GMT hand enabled crews to set the watch to GMT or another time zone, and, using the rotating 24-hour scale bezel, correct the offset to display a second-time zone on the 24-hour scale.
This feature is just as useful today, allowing the modern traveler to easily keep track of his home time zone, no matter how far he may have journeyed.
| Stock # | RLX1675GMT18K69-2 | |
| Brand | Rolex | |
| Style | GMT-Master | |
| Model | 1675 | |
| Serial | 21XXXXX | |
| Size | Men's | |
| Material | 18k YG | |
| Dial | Glossy Brown "Nipple Dial" | |
| Millimeters | 40mm | |
| Strap | Rolex 18k YG Oyster-Rivet Bracelet W/ 80 End Pieces |
CASE & BRACELET
The 18k yellow gold case retains thick and symmetrical lugs and crown guards that show light signs of use and was previously lightly polished in the past to retain full chamfers down the lugs. The original "fat font" brown bezel is in excellent shape, showing a subtle fade and minimal signs of use. The case back features a hand engraving on the back that reads "William Newsum" and all of the hallmarks and stampings remain deep and crisp. The Rolex 18k yellow gold Oyster-Rivet bracelet with 80 end pieces is remarkable, retaining 12 links that exhibit absolutely no stretch with only light signs of previous use.
DIAL & HANDS
The glossy brown GMT-Master "nipple" dial is in gorgeous condition, retaining its glossy finish with no signs of aging to the naked eye. The tritium lume plots have aged to a charming creamy golden patina, under U.V. light inspection the 12 o'clock marker shows a small space of missing lume, however, there is no evidence of degradation so it is possible it left Rolex factory like this, the rest of the lume plots remain fully intact. The original gold tritium hands have aged a shade lighter than the dial and match the watch nicely, under U.V. light inspection the hands exhibit no degradation. The metallic gold date wheel shows closed 6's and 9's which is believed to be correct for this era.
ACCESSORIES
The watch just received a full service and is keeping time within COSC spec, backed by a 1-year warranty on accurate timekeeping.
