Rolex

1979 Rolex GMT-Master (Ref. 16750) Matte Dial with Box and Papers

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The Rolex GMT is the jet-setting icon of the Rolex sports watch family. The history of this sophisticated, versatile style dates back to 1954 when Rolex received a request from Pan Am to create a technical pilots watch that could indicate two time zones simultaneously.   As advances in aviation made transcontinental flights commercially available Pan Am needed a watch that could be issued to their crews on the long-haul international flights.

Rolex GMT Pan Am 1675

GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time - the time zone which regulates world clocks and is required for all aviation planning and schedules. The Rolex GMT Master has a fourth 24-hour hand that directly displays the same time zone as the standard 12-hour hand but on a 24-hour scale. The addition of this GMT hand enabled crews to set the watch to GMT or another time zone, and, using the rotating 24-hour scale bezel, correct the offset to display a second time zone on the 24-hour scale.

This feature is just as useful today, allowing the modern traveler to easily keep track of his home time zone, no matter how far he may have journeyed.

The Rolex Ref. 16750 was first introduced in 1979 and was in production until 1988. The main difference between the Rolex GMT ref Ref. 1675 and the 16750 was the introduction of the Cal. 3075 movement which allowed for instantaneous date advancement also known as "quick set"

Stock # RLXGMT7916750
Brand Rolex
Style GMT-Master
Model 16750
Serial 62XXXXX
Size Men's
Material Stainless Steel
Dial Matte Black
Millimeters 40
Strap Rolex 78360 Oyster Bracelet 580 Ends

 

CASE & BRACELET

The case has been previously lightly polished, there is bracelet wear on the underside of the lugs. The "Pepsi" bezel remains in wonderful condition and has taken on a charming light fade. The original Rolex 78360 bracelet with 580 ends remains in unpolished condition showing light wear and mild stretch, featuring TCS engraved on the clasp.

DIAL & HANDS

The transitional matte black dial is in wonderful vintage condition, the dial exhibits slight hand drag underneath the hand stack only visible under loupe. The tritium lume plots have aged to a desirable eggshell patina and exhibit no lume loss when inspected under U.V. light. The original tritium hour and minute hands match the dial perfectly and show no lume loss under U.V. light inspection, the sweep-seconds hand has been professionally restored with tritium to match the dial. The original date disc displays the era correct open 6's and 9's.

ACCESSORIES 

The watch comes complete with the original box, translation papers, and warranty papers with the original caseback sticker attached. The watch is running perfectly, previous service history is unknown.