62 Rolex Fine and Rare GMT Master Automatic Wristwatch in Steel, Reference 16 750, With 24 Hour Bezel, Date, Rare Case and Bracelet John Bull Customization

Estimate: € 20,000 –⁠ 40,000

Sold € 24,700

Model: GMT-master
Material: Stainless Steel
Reference N°: 16750
Year: 1983
Case N°: 8254164
Caliber: 3075
Movement type: Automatic
Bracelet: Stainless Steel
Dimensions: 39 mm
Signed: Dial, case and movement

Think about starting your activity as a Tobacco house in 1929, exactly during the Great Depression, and in less than 30 years evolve your business as seller of watches, toys and gifts, becaming exclusive representative for Rolex in the Bahamas. This is the incredible story of John Bull that is nowadays considered as one of the most appreciated retailer of jewels, fashion and watches brand such as Cartier, Chanel, Bvlgari and Piaget. During these years and in the light of its enormous successes, Rolex then awarded John Bull an additional privilege as rarely happened in the history of watchmaking: being able to act directly on the cases and bracelets of the watches personalizing them with an absolutely unique bark effect and for this reason today cult objects of collectors and watch lovers. To the best of our knowledge very few other examples of John Bull customized watches have passed through auction (one of them in the Monaco Legend Group, July 19th 2017) but none of them was a GMT Master such as the present watch. The GMT was first introduced in 1954 with the reference 6542 on explicit request of Pan Am Airlines in order to provide to its pilots an instrument which could allow to keep track of time in two locations. During these over 60 years many different models have been released such as the reference 16 750, like the present watch. Introduced in 1981 it had the quickset feature and a new higher beat caliber 3075 movement. With this update the order of the hands changed from GMT/Hour/Minute/second on reference 1675 to Hour/GMT/Minute/Second on the new model but kept the classic characteristics of the 1675 such as acrylic crystal. This lot is remarkable for its conservation of both the iconic blue-red bezel and the black gilt dial with applied numerals with white gold edges which have turned to a very light and fascinating pink color. As previously said, the main peculiarity of this watch is the incredible bark finishing which adorns the whole watch and make it almost a unique piece. This customization is nowadays definitely sought after by passionates not only for its rarity bat mainly because it’s capable of transform a simple watch in a true work of art, totally groundbreaking with the classic standards.