Rolex GMT-Master 6542

Property From the Original Owner ROLEX, STAINLESS STEEL DUAL TIME 'GMT MASTER', REF. 6542

CIRCA: 1959 CASE NO: 427'371 CASE MATERIAL: Stainless steel CASE DIAMETER: 37 mm. BRACELET MATERIAL: Stainless steel BRACELET SIZE: Approx. 200 mm. overall length DIAL: Black, gilt MOVEMENT: Automatic FUNCTIONS: Dual time, date BOX: No PAPERS: No REMARK: Property from the Original OwnerRolex GMT Master reference 6542 – the earliest and rarest of all GMT models continues to be one of the ultimate prizes for many Rolex sports watch collectors. The present watch is offered by the original owner, who dutifully serviced the watch when in regular use. It boasts a well preserved gloss gilt dial with attractive and evenly aged lume. The interior of the case back is stamped ‘IV. 1958’ for the fourth quarter of 1958. Ref. 6542 The GMT-Master reference 6542 is unquestionably a true icon among Rolex’s tool watches. The beautiful red and blue bezel with luminous numerals, created in order to enable the wearer to distinguish between day and night time is used in conjunction with the distinctive additional hour hand with small triangle tip to show Greenwich Meantime, hence the name ‘GMT’. Its functionality and vintage good looks has made the 6542 GMT-Master an eternal favourite for collectors and tastemakers. Introduced in 1954 for the airline ‘Pan Am’, the United States’ largest international air carrier for most of the 20th century, it allowed their pilots to calibrate the exact time in any given time zone. The bakelite bezel is the defining feature of ref. 6542, with an almost three-dimensional effect to the numerals, it gives an aesthetic that is unique to the model. Because it was in production for only a very short time, and also due to its brittle nature, surviving examples are today exceptionally rare. Reference 6542 achieved international cinematic fame when it was seen on the wrist of Honor Blackman’s character ‘Pussy Galore’ in the epic 1964 James Bond film ‘Goldfinger’.