161 Rolex A very rare and special, GMT Master automatic wristwatch in yellow gold with laquered "Stella-like" dial and mesh Rolex bracelet, reference 1675.

Estimate: € 30.000 –⁠ 60.000

There are watches that tell time, and then there are watches that tell stories — of a time when intercontinental travel was the province of explorers and aviators, and when tool watches, though rugged in spirit, were crafted with the opulence and detail worthy of high horology. The present Rolex GMT-Master reference 1675, rendered in 18k yellow gold, belongs resolutely to the latter. Launched in 1959 as the successor to the legendary reference 6542, the 1675 marked a new chapter in Rolex’s aviation lineage. While the vast majority of production was realized in utilitarian stainless steel — befitting its role as a pilot’s instrument — a precious handful left the manufacture in solid gold, an indulgent interpretation of a tool watch that whispers of exclusivity. What makes this early example especially mesmerizing is its absence of crown guards, a feature found only in the earliest iterations of the 1675 and one that dramatically alters the profile of the case, lending it a visual purity and symmetry seldom encountered. The bicchierini dial, with its deep, brown lacquered chocolate tones, exudes warmth and vintage glamour. The markers, combined with the rare alpha-shaped hands, further elevate the aesthetic into a realm of unmistakable rarity and charm. The bezel insert, in a mellowed and wonderfully aged shade of copper, anchors the dial in an almost sepia-toned harmony. Impeccably preserved and strikingly charismatic, this example stands as a golden ambassador of the GMT lineage, a reference point for collectors and connoisseurs alike.

Condition Report

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