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Lot Essay
Preserved in good overall condition, the present wristwatch represents a very rare specimen of this most globally recognized and appreciated reference.
The black gloss dial is in attractively aged condition, showing “spider” lines defined by the crisscrossing of light cracks throughout its entire surface. Like the colour shift of tropical dials, this characteristic is due to ageing and amplifies the collectability and esthetic impact of a wristwatch.
Another feature of the model is the bright acrylic or bakelite bezel insert with the twenty-four hour markings printed to its underside. This material was chosen to reduce reflection so as not to disturb the pilots. The bezel ring was also made of acrylic and coated in an alloy to resemble metal. It turned out that the flexibility of this material could cause the bezel insert to break and that in very warm environments the printing would often flake off, such as on the present wristwatch. Consequently, Rolex decided to replace the acrylic insert with a more resistant metal version
Created in 1955 following Pan Am’s request, the Rolex reference 6542 is the first GMT reference, and the beginning of one of the most legendary and appreciated wristwatch lineage. Landmark in the history of Rolex, the timepiece was commissioned by Pan Am in order for their pilots to manage the negative effects of jet-lag due to the increased speed of intercontinental flights. The wristwatch was developed with a 24h hand, enabling its wearer to keep track of both the local time and the time in their home time zone, which would prevent glaring during flights and therefore limit interferences with navigation.
Nicknamed by collectors “Pussy Galore”, following the character in the James Bond movie “Goldfinger”, the popularity of the GMT-Master reference 6542 has steadily increased throughout the years.
The black gloss dial is in attractively aged condition, showing “spider” lines defined by the crisscrossing of light cracks throughout its entire surface. Like the colour shift of tropical dials, this characteristic is due to ageing and amplifies the collectability and esthetic impact of a wristwatch.
Another feature of the model is the bright acrylic or bakelite bezel insert with the twenty-four hour markings printed to its underside. This material was chosen to reduce reflection so as not to disturb the pilots. The bezel ring was also made of acrylic and coated in an alloy to resemble metal. It turned out that the flexibility of this material could cause the bezel insert to break and that in very warm environments the printing would often flake off, such as on the present wristwatch. Consequently, Rolex decided to replace the acrylic insert with a more resistant metal version
Created in 1955 following Pan Am’s request, the Rolex reference 6542 is the first GMT reference, and the beginning of one of the most legendary and appreciated wristwatch lineage. Landmark in the history of Rolex, the timepiece was commissioned by Pan Am in order for their pilots to manage the negative effects of jet-lag due to the increased speed of intercontinental flights. The wristwatch was developed with a 24h hand, enabling its wearer to keep track of both the local time and the time in their home time zone, which would prevent glaring during flights and therefore limit interferences with navigation.
Nicknamed by collectors “Pussy Galore”, following the character in the James Bond movie “Goldfinger”, the popularity of the GMT-Master reference 6542 has steadily increased throughout the years.