Lot Essay
The present timepiece is a rare and highly coveted representative of the reference 1675, featuring not only the coveted pointed crown guards, but also a black gilt 'exclamation' dial. These types of dial are very hard to come by and garner immediate attention from Rolex aficionados. Characterized by an additional luminous dot positioned underneath the 6 o'clock hour marker.
Exclamation dials were used by Rolex as a means to indicate that the radium used on the dial to make it luminous was within the norm approved by the Atomic Energy Commission in the U.S. These types of dials are found only on models from the late 1950s to early 1960s. The radioactive radium used on luminous watch dials in the first part of the 20th century was replaced in the middle of the century by less harmful tritium.
A rare find at auction, the present timepiece with 'exclamation mark' dial represents a rare opportunity to obtain such an attractive example of the iconic Rolex reference 1675.
Reference 1675
Following the success of the original GMT-Master reference 6542 in 1954, Rolex introduced successor reference 1675 only five years later. Reference 1675 stayed in production until 1980. The yellow gold version of reference 1675 originally came without crown guards, which were only introduced in 1967 on the yellow gold version to match their stainless steel counterparts. Upon its introduction, the reference was available in 18K gold or stainless steel. At the start of the 1970s, Rolex also produced versions in steel and gold, a metal combination the company markets as 'Rolesor'.
Exclamation dials were used by Rolex as a means to indicate that the radium used on the dial to make it luminous was within the norm approved by the Atomic Energy Commission in the U.S. These types of dials are found only on models from the late 1950s to early 1960s. The radioactive radium used on luminous watch dials in the first part of the 20th century was replaced in the middle of the century by less harmful tritium.
A rare find at auction, the present timepiece with 'exclamation mark' dial represents a rare opportunity to obtain such an attractive example of the iconic Rolex reference 1675.
Reference 1675
Following the success of the original GMT-Master reference 6542 in 1954, Rolex introduced successor reference 1675 only five years later. Reference 1675 stayed in production until 1980. The yellow gold version of reference 1675 originally came without crown guards, which were only introduced in 1967 on the yellow gold version to match their stainless steel counterparts. Upon its introduction, the reference was available in 18K gold or stainless steel. At the start of the 1970s, Rolex also produced versions in steel and gold, a metal combination the company markets as 'Rolesor'.