1966 Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675 'Gilt dial' with Box and Papers

The first GMT-Master in production ever was the ref. 6542 and was introduced in 1954. But, perhaps one of the most popular vintage Rolex GMT-Master watches is this ref. 1675, which was introduced in 1959 and produced until 1980.

 

Till the mid-1960s, the extra hour hand featured a small triangle and was succeeded by a red hand with a larger triangle through-out the late 1960s and 1970s. Early 1960s models also featured pointed crown guards and/or a chapter ring, while mid 1960s and on started featuring regular crown guards. True to the era, the first generation of GMT-Master ref. 1675 watches included glossy black dials with gilt printing. This was the case up until the mid-1960s when Rolex replaced them for matte black dials with white text. It’s worth noting that there are in fact two types of glossy/gilt dials — earlier ones with a chapter ring and later ones without a chapter ring. Due to their age and relatively short production run, gilt dials are the most rare and valuable among the different types of vintage Rolex sport dials, and collectors often seek them out for their warm and unmistakably vintage appearance.

 

The first 1675 watches came with Rolex caliber 1565, until 1965 when Rolex started to equip them with caliber 1575 (in fact being a 1570/5 which is a 1570 with date function, and that’s why only 1570 is stamped). This movement had a higher ticking number (19,800vph instead of 18,000 vph). Later on, caliber 1575 was modified to have a hacking feature (seconds will stop when the crown is pulled out). This was done in 1971.

This Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675 offered here dates to 1966 and it’s part of the last era of ‘gilt’ dials, that eventually got replaced by the more common matte dials.

 

It features a glossy gilt dial which remains in stunning condition, as these types of dials tend to bubble and crack quite easily. The surface of this dial is smooth and even, showing very minor wear for its age and very few microscopic and sporadic spotting (probably tritium that fell off the hands at some point). The gilt printings are completely visible, with no missing parts. It also presents immaculate puffy, original, clean lume plots that have aged to a golden hue, matching with the original hands. The lume reacts as it should when exposed to UV light; glowing bright while directed by the UV light, and when the UV light is turned off, it remains glowing for a few seconds and then dies off, exactly as it should do.

 

The original GMT ‘pepsi’ bezel features super fat font and has aged beautifully; the blue side has faded into a kind of green-ish blue hue, and the red side has faded into a light red that tends to a pale fuchsia.

 

The previously polished 40mm stainless steel case is in great condition, showing sharp bevels following factory standards and with hardly any visible signs of wear. The case back remains in the same condition, with some minor wear visible. It is stamped 1675 and II.66 on its inside.

 

The acrylic crystal it’s on is a superdomed T39 that remains perfectly clean. This watch originally came with an acrylic crystal that featured a cyclops date magnifier, but this ‘No-Date’ superdomed crystal (used on the Ref. 1665) just gives it a distinctive look. However, the original crystal with cyclops date magnifier is included in the sale too.

 

The watch is running well and keeping time, as it has been fully serviced by our watchmaker.

 

It comes suited on the original 20mm Riveted 7206 stainless steel bracelet with 80 end links and date stamp on clasp 1/68 that fits from a 16.5 cm wrist up to a 18 cm wrist. It shows little stretch for its age and normal wear.

 

If this wasn’t enough, this piece is presented as a full set which includes inner box, punched Bureaux Suisses certificate with matching serial and movement number, rare contemporary GMT-Master manual, GMT-Master card, wallet and punched guarantee papers showing it was sold by Roca Hermanos, which is still today the official Rolex retailer in Caracas, Venezuela, in June 1968.

 

Macros of dial and case are available under request, as well as movement and service pictures.