No other watch so immediately evokes the glamourous world of 1950s international air-travel as the Rolex GMT-Master. Advertised at the time as being “the ideal watch for air-pilots, ships’ captains, travelers and businessmen”, the GMT-Master has a fourth arrow-tipped hand for the display of a second time zone with corresponding 24-hour numerals on the bezel. The model was developed at the instigation of Pan American Airlines (Pan Am) who asked Rolex to produce a watch on which two time zones could be read simultaneously. Originally, pilots set the additional hand to Greenwich Meantime, hence the origin of the model’s name “GMT-Master”. The first reference 6542 was in production between 1954 and 1959. The distinctive red and blue bezel of this and later models has become nicknamed the “Pepsi” by collectors.
General
Bakelite & Dial Configurations
- Blue/red bakelite, black gilt dial, GMT writing in gilt (Stainless steel)
- Blue/red bakelite, black gilt dial, GMT writing in pink (Stainless steel)
- Blue/red bakelite, black gilt dial, GMT writing in pink & red depth (Stainless steel)
- Brown bakelite, brown and nipple dial, GMT writing in gilt (18k gold)
- Brown bakelite, white and nipple dial, GMT writing in black (18k gold)
- Brown bakelite, gold dial, GMT writing in gold (18k gold)
- Black bakelite, brown and nipple dial, GMT writing in white (18k gold)
- Blue/red non bakelite, white dial, GMT writing in black (Stainless steel, Albino)
Case
- Stainless Steel
- 18k Gold
