Rolex
1970 Rolex GMT-Master (Ref. 1675) MK I "Long E" Dial
The Rolex GMT is the jet-setting icon of the Rolex sports watch family. Like the Rolex Submariner, the Rolex GMT is sophisticated, rugged, and versatile. In 1954 Pan Am started using the newly designed Boeing 707 which allowed for Pan Am to fly transcontinentally and is said to have started the commercially available jet age. In the same year, Rolex received a request from PanAm to create a technical pilots watch which indicated two time zones simultaneously that could be issued by the airline to their crews on long-haul transcontinental international flights. The original Rolex GMT Master has a fourth 24-hour hand directly displaying the same time zone as the standard 12-hour hand but on a 24-hour scale. This GMT hand enabled the crews to set the watch to GMT or another time zone, and using the rotatable 24-hour scale bezel, set the correct offset timing thus displaying a second-time zone on the 24-hour scale.
| Stock # | RLXGMT701675 | |
| Brand | Rolex | |
| Style | GMT-Master | |
| Model | 1675 | |
| Serial | 26XXXXX | |
| Size | Men's | |
| Material | Stainless Steel | |
| Dial | Matte Black "MK I" | |
| Millimeters | 40 | |
| Bracelet | Rolex 7836 Oyster Bracelet w/ 280 End Pieces |
CASE & BRACELET
The exceptional case features broad chamfers through the lugs and is believed to have only been sleeve polished in the past, retaining full and symmetrical lugs that exhibit light signs of honest use. The red back "fat font" bezel insert is in excellent overall condition, retaining vibrant colors with gentle signs of use present. The original Rolex 7836 folded-link Oyster bracelet with 280 end pieces is stamped 1/71 and retains 13 links that show moderate stretch for the style and age of the bracelet and will fit up to an 8-inch wrist.
DIAL & HANDS
The MK I matte black dial is exceptionally well-preserved, showing no age or notable damage. The white minute track does exhibit some paint loss at the 6 o'clock position which is common for Rolex sport model dials in this era. The tritium lume plots have taken on a lovely golden-yellow coloration and display no degradation under U.V. light inspection. The original tritium hands have aged a shade lighter than the dial, except for the GMT hands which age slightly darker than the dial, under U.V. light inspection the hour hand features some very minor cracking and remains stable while the rest of the hands remain fully intact. The metallic date wheel is original with "open" 6's and 9's.
ACCESSORIES
None. The watch was recently serviced and is keeping time perfectly, backed by a 1-year warranty on accurate timekeeping.