Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675/3, two-tone gold and steel, circa 1978

Price upon request

Identity

Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675/3, circa 1978. Automatic movement. Steel Oyster case, 40 mm, crown guards, signed gold screw-down crown. Bidirectional rotating coin-edge bezel in 18-carat yellow gold, black insert graduated to 24 hours. Black dial, gold-surround indexes, gold-surround hands, additional 24-hour hand, date window at 3 o'clock. Plexiglas crystal with Cyclops lens. Leather strap, steel pin buckle.

Horological context

The GMT-Master was introduced by Rolex in 1955 with Ref. 6542, designed at the request of Pan American Airways for its pilots flying transatlantic routes. It established the aesthetic and technical codes that would define this model that would become legendary: Oyster case, additional 24-hour hand, bidirectional rotating two-tone bezel graduated to 24 hours allowing simultaneous reading of a second time zone. Ref. 1675, produced from 1959 to 1980, marks the model's maturity: crown guards, calibre 1565 then 1575, water resistance 50 metres. It was succeeded by Ref. 16750, the first to receive the quickset, then by the GMT-Master II opened in 1983 with Ref. 16760 whose calibre 3085 enabled, for the first time, the independent setting of the hour hand. Technical evolutions followed: the move from plexiglas to sapphire, calibres 3185 then 3186, the generalisation of the Cerachrom ceramic insert from 2005, and water resistance increased to 100 metres.

Character

Collectors call this a "nipple" dial, after the raised gold of its indexes. Over the years their luminous material has taken on a cream tone. The gold of the bezel and crown warms the steel of the case, and on leather the pilot's watch takes on a dressier air.

Serviced watch. Very good condition. Original steel and gold Oyster bracelet available on request. Delivered with the brand box and the Contre-Temps 24-month warranty certificate.