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Lot Essay
With Rolex original guarantee and presentation box.
Looking at this example, even the novice to the world of vintage Rolex cannot help but be mesmerized and appreciate the appeal of the so-called tropical dial. When this phenomenon occurs, the originally black dial changes with time to a different color, which can be any shade from dark chocolate to a light brown. In this case the dial has indeed changed to a light cappuccino color which goes in perfect accord with the ivory/cream color of the lumes, both those on the dials and those in the bezel. The watch further impress with the nearly flawless bakelite bezel and its deep red and blue coloration.
A landmark in the history of Rolex, reference 6542 is the first GMT reference, and the beginning of one of the most legendary and appreciated wristwatch lineage. Its genesis is absolutely technical: in the early fifties intercontinental flights were becoming more and more common, and the pilots were experiences fatigue and discomfort due to jet lag. As a countermeasure, physicians at Pan Am World Airways suggested the management to provide their pilots with a mean to know both the local time and the time in their home time zone. Rolex was chosen to develop a timepiece which would display both local and home times. Such a watch shall furthermore have characteristics which would not interfere with airplane navigation, for example an antireflective bezel, to eliminate the risk of glaring. Thus the bakelite bezel, later traded in for a metal one as bakelite was found to be very brittle and prone to cracking.
It is now apparent that the watch designed by Rolex for this project was not only technically compliant with PanAm demands, but it was also a landmark of watchmaking design, so much that it soon became one of the most globally recognized and appreciated timepieces by any brands. It goes without saying that an example of reference 6542 complete with its wonderfully preserved bakelite bezel - a very rare occurrence because, as mentioned above, bakelite bezels were easily damaged - is a rare occasion for the savvy Rolex collector to own the original iteration of such a landmark model.
If, however, not only the timepiece is genuine in all of its parts, but it further presents a charismatic and impressive tropical dial and its original guarantee, the occasion can be considered nearly unique. And indeed the present lot can be classified as one of these hyperbolically rare treasures, particularly impressive due to the extreme chestnut tropicalization of its dial, matched in color depth only by the evenness of the shifting.
Looking at this example, even the novice to the world of vintage Rolex cannot help but be mesmerized and appreciate the appeal of the so-called tropical dial. When this phenomenon occurs, the originally black dial changes with time to a different color, which can be any shade from dark chocolate to a light brown. In this case the dial has indeed changed to a light cappuccino color which goes in perfect accord with the ivory/cream color of the lumes, both those on the dials and those in the bezel. The watch further impress with the nearly flawless bakelite bezel and its deep red and blue coloration.
A landmark in the history of Rolex, reference 6542 is the first GMT reference, and the beginning of one of the most legendary and appreciated wristwatch lineage. Its genesis is absolutely technical: in the early fifties intercontinental flights were becoming more and more common, and the pilots were experiences fatigue and discomfort due to jet lag. As a countermeasure, physicians at Pan Am World Airways suggested the management to provide their pilots with a mean to know both the local time and the time in their home time zone. Rolex was chosen to develop a timepiece which would display both local and home times. Such a watch shall furthermore have characteristics which would not interfere with airplane navigation, for example an antireflective bezel, to eliminate the risk of glaring. Thus the bakelite bezel, later traded in for a metal one as bakelite was found to be very brittle and prone to cracking.
It is now apparent that the watch designed by Rolex for this project was not only technically compliant with PanAm demands, but it was also a landmark of watchmaking design, so much that it soon became one of the most globally recognized and appreciated timepieces by any brands. It goes without saying that an example of reference 6542 complete with its wonderfully preserved bakelite bezel - a very rare occurrence because, as mentioned above, bakelite bezels were easily damaged - is a rare occasion for the savvy Rolex collector to own the original iteration of such a landmark model.
If, however, not only the timepiece is genuine in all of its parts, but it further presents a charismatic and impressive tropical dial and its original guarantee, the occasion can be considered nearly unique. And indeed the present lot can be classified as one of these hyperbolically rare treasures, particularly impressive due to the extreme chestnut tropicalization of its dial, matched in color depth only by the evenness of the shifting.