Rolex GMT Master*** 16750 Pumpkin*** 1981
ROLEX GMT Master Black Bezel Ref. 16750, transitional matte dial, Pumpkin Patina, 1981
Serial: 6661871
Circa: 1981
Reference: 16750
DIAL: Black matte dial with beveled date aperture at 3 o’clock, untouched. Mercedes hour and pencil minutes hand, lollipop seconds and red color GMT hand indicating the second time zone.
CASE: 40mm, stainless steel with black rotating bezel and acrylic glass with loupe for date at 3 o’clock.
MOVEMENT: Caliber 3075, Self-winding mechanical movement with 27 jewels
BRACELET: Rolex stainless steel Oyster 78360/580 date code F
CONDITION REPORT: Excellent Condition. The dial surface is mint and tritium hour markers have aged evenly to a amber 'pumpkin' color. Hands are original, a bit darker in color. The bezel insert is original, worn and lightly faded all around matching the condition of the watch.
The case appears worn, but unpolished with bevels sharp and visible and pinholes are crisp. Bracelet shows some light wear, but overall excellent. The original crystal was replaced and kept on the side.
Movement was fully overhauled in June 2021 (after photography) and comes with a one year warranty.
NOTES: This particular example was sourced from the original owner by another watch dealer and the lume patina and case condition are stunning and thoroughly honest. It is rare to find this reference with such impressive patina and so well kept in untouched condition.
The iconic Rolex GMT Master was developed as a collaborative project between Rolex and Pan Am Airways. As in the 1940s and 50s flying distances got longer and the pilots travelled through multiple time zones, Pan Am asked Rolex in the early 1950s to develop a watch which could tell different times simultaneously. The model was launched in 1954 and the watch was issued by the airline to their crews on long-haul flights. The first GMT (Ref. 6542) was a regular Turn-O-Graph (Ref. 6202) with a different bezel and a modified movement. The Rolex GMT was designed as an aviator watch: The newly introduced fourth hand allowed the display of an additional time, with the corresponding number markings on the outer bezel. Pilots used the second time to display the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which led to the name Rolex GMT Master.
This particular reference 16750 has a very rare transitional configuration with the matte dial and the quickset date, while later 16750 had the metal applied hour markers.
SOLD |