Rolex GMT-Master 6542

Box : No Papers : No Age : 1959 Movement : automatic Case Size : 38mm Case : Stainless Steel Dial : Black Bracelet : Stainless Steel Oyster LOT : 74303 Location : London, United Kingdom Seller : Currency : GBP KEY FACTS This Rolex GMT-Master 'Pepsi' is offered by a private collector in the UK A very rare example of the first GMT-Master reference, featuring a highly sought-after Bakelite bezel Presented with a third-party display box, third-party purchase receipt, guarantee and insurance valuation - the original display box and warranty papers are not included The vendor confirms the watch to be in good working order ABOUT THIS WATCH The Rolex GMT-Master ref. 6542, introduced in 1955, holds a pivotal place in horological history as the inaugural model in Rolex's now-legendary pilot watch collection Developed specifically for Pan American World Airways pilots, the GMT-Master ref. 6542 was designed to address the unique challenge of tracking multiple time zones as commercial aviation expanded across the globe Drawing inspiration from the Turn-O-Graph ref. 6202, the GMT-Master featured a rotating bezel marked with 24 hours, allowing pilots to simultaneously monitor two time zones The Bakelite bezel's iconic two-tone design—red for daylight hours and blue for nighttime—quickly earned the watch the nickname 'Pepsi' Towards the end of production Rolex switched to a more durable metal insert due to the bakelite’s tendency to crack, making these Bakelite examples highly sought-after by collectors The GMT-Master ref. 6542 housed three different automatic movements throughout its brief four-year production run: the Caliber 1036, Caliber 1065, and Caliber 1066 With a water resistance of up to 50 meters and lacking crown guards, this vintage reference paved the way for future GMT-Master models Discontinued in 1959 and succeeded by the ref. 1675, the GMT-Master ref. 6542 remains a coveted collector's item and an enduring symbol of aviation history