91 Rolex A rare and collectible Rolex GMT Master reference 1675 in stainless steel Cornino e Freccino with date

Estimate: € 25,000 –⁠ 50,000

Sold € 37,700

Model: GMT Master Cornino
Material: stainless steel
Reference N°: 1675
Year: 1961
Case N°: 694604
Caliber: 1560
Movement N°: D63795
Bracelet: stainless steel
Dimensions: 40
Signed: Dial, Case and movement

At the beginning of the ’50s, the famous airline company Pan Am was looking for a small instrument which could allow the pilots to keep track of time in two locations. It is said that “necessity is the mother of inventions”, and this needs to which Pan Am sought to find an answer was satisfied by the usual and unsurpassed genius of Rolex in the wake of the incredible success of the tool-watches that they started producing in the middle of the 20th century. In 1954, therefore, was presented the first GMT model, Reference 6542 with its immediately recognizable bakelite bezel insert with the twenty-four hour markings printed on its underside. Only 5 years later, in light of the success of this model, the reference 1675 was presented, which remained in production until 1980 and which made significant and important modifications able to resolve some flaws of the previous model. First of all, the bakelite ring was replaced, which tended to crack, with a more resistant steel ring and crown guards were added.
The lot offered here is a beautiful specimen of 1675 with special features, the stainless steel case is in great conditions, featuring a chapter ring and very attractive gilt printing. The rarity of this timepiece is further enhanced by the presence of pointed crown guards, nicknamed “cornino”, as well as the original small arrow tip of the 24 hour hand, usually changed to the later version during services. This watch definitely well preserved, together with the appealing feature just described, is also equipped with the always fascinating stainless steel Oyster riveted bracelet.