1966 Rolex GMT-Master (Ref. 1675) Gilt "Tropical"

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.

This 1966 Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675 has taken on a strong, warm, patina loved by vintage collectors today. Originally produced with an end of production gilt dial that was taken on an exceptional brown "tropical" patina. The handset contains the original and sought after "little GMT hand", and case retains strong profiling and thickness. Ths specific piece is perfect for the collector that is getting into the gilt era of Rolex and loves honest, strong patina, watches.