Description

The history of the Rolex GMT-Master debuted with a collaboration with the now defunct Pan American Airways, the first model was released in 1954-1955 and given to the crew on the long-haul flights. The major feature was the second time zone (GMT) with dedicated hand giving time on the rotatable red & blue bezel that had a 24-hour display, hence the “Pepsi” nickname.
The model became quickly popular as a pilot’s watch and very recognisable among international world travellers.
Various upgrades and metal variations were released over the years such as bi-color, full gold but the most famous remain the steel versions nicknamed respectively; Coke due to its red/black bezel, model that is discontinued today, Pepsi for the red/blue bezel and Batman for the blue & black bezel model.

The present watch is the famous GMT Master II 116759SA in white gold with diamonds and blue sapphires, a white gold Oyster mono-block case is set with 76 brilliant-cut diamonds and the eye-catching rotating bezel set with 30 baguettes in sapphires and 29 in diamonds, set in a way that the stones are decorated to delimit the hour markers.

Black dial with the date window at 3 o’clock and indexes in gold with luminescent coating as well as the central hands of hours – minutes – seconds – GMT.

The self-winding Caliber 3285 movement has a power-reserve of 70 hours and is known to be one of the most efficient.

The oyster bracelet is so underrated and goes unspoken of, but the technology and little hacks on those end-links are a huge advantage Rolex has over any other watch bracelet in the world.

Very rare full set available for viewing by appointment.

Rolex – bio

Founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, initially as Wilsdorf & Davis Ltd. Renamed Rolex by 1908 and moved its base of operations to Geneva, Switzerland in 1919.  Their success is due to their innovation namely the legendary “Oyster” case – first water resistant watch and their extremely reliable movements.
The most famous models are Datejust, Day-Date, Daytona, Explorer, GMT-Master, Submariner and many more.
The company is owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a family private trust.
One story, never confirmed by Wilsdorf, recounts that the name came from the French words “horlogerie exquise”‘è, meaning “exquisite clockwork”.