Rolex GMT-Master 6542

Rolex Reference 6542 GMT-Master | A stainless steel automatic dual time zone wristwatch, Circa 1957

Dial: black, gilt Caliber: cal.1030 automatic, 25 jewels Movement number: N'580'235 Case: stainless steel, screw down case back Case number: 212'613 Closure: stainless steel Rolex Jubilee bracelet with folding clasp Size: 38mm diameter Signed: case, dial, and movement Box: yes Papers: no Accessories: Rolex presentation box with outer packagingAt the dawn of the jet age in the 1950s, Pan American World Airways emerged as a leader in transcontinental travel. With pilots now flying long distances at sub-sonic speeds, the airline required a wristwatch capable of displaying both local time and home time with absolute clarity. Rolex was the natural partner for the project. In 1954 the manufacture introduced the first GMT-Master, reference 6542. While its case echoed the lines of the Submariner, the model was distinguished by a fourth hand and a red-and-blue Bakelite bezel calibrated to 24 hours. The design quickly became one of the most recognizable in modern watchmaking. The reference 6542 was an immediate success and remains the only GMT-Master to feature the fragile Bakelite insert, which Rolex soon replaced with metal due to its susceptibility to cracking. Surviving examples with original Bakelite bezels are therefore exceptionally rare and keenly sought after, their vivid red-and-blue coloration holding enduring appeal for Rolex collectors.