Rolex

The immense popularity of the Rolex GMT-Master series to this day is a testament to the timeless design of the reference that started it all, the reference 6542. Widely considered the master of the GMT-Masters, the reference started production in 1955 and was only manufactured for 4 years, the model being discontinued in 1959.

The reference is based in the mid-century glamour of air travel, having been originally designed for Pan Am pilots during the golden age of flight. It was then lifted to further accolade adorning the wrist of Honor Blackman’s Pussy Galore in James Bond, Goldfinger released in 1964.

The watch is in and of itself an icon; the first watch to bear the now famous blue and red bezel to which it may attribute its huge collector following. The 6542 is distinguished from its predecessors by its Bakelite bezel insert. While this material was soon discovered to be impractical due to its susceptibility to cracking, it produces an incredibly alluring depth to the bezel that is lacking in later models as plastic or metal was used in its place. What is more Rolex recalled many of the original inserts due to high Radium content used as luminescence. Finding examples therefore retaining their original bezel is a rare occurrence, as they were either broken, recalled or simply replaced at service making the present lot particularly scarce and highly prized.