Rolex GMT Master

Why We Love It

The Submariner and Daytona might get all the attention, but for us at Analog/Shift, there is one vintage Rolex that always takes top billing in our hearts.

That vintage Rolex is no other than the GMT-Master, a line of pilot's watches featuring a second time zone function. These timepieces have been in continues production since the 1950s, and have rightfully earned their place as an icon of design.

Of all the versions produced since its inception, the Reference 1675 is to the GMT-Master what the reference 5513 is to the Submariner; the quintessential version of an iconic watch.

Despite the fact that the 1675 is the second iteration of Rolex’s famed GMT-Master, it was in production for over twenty years spanning the 1960s into the 1980s and underwent numerous changes and improvements in that time.

However, as with all designs, the earliest is always the truest to its form, and that is exactly what we have here. This beauty is a first generation matte dial 1675 with what the Rolex cognoscenti call a “Mark I, Long E” Dial.

This particular example has a professionally restored 39mm case, beautiful matte MKI dial with richly patinated Tritium luminous indices and a vibrant "Pepsi" bezel insert. Add in a later solid link jubilee bracelet and you've got the perfect vintage GMT ready for daily duty in any time zone.

The Story

As the legend goes, Pan-Am approached Rolex in 1953 looking for a watch specially designed for their pilots, and a partnership was quickly formed. A Submariner became the base for this new watch, and several important modifications were made to turn a Sub into the GMT-Master that we know today. Rolex added a date function with a cyclops lens magnifier, GMT complication, and two-colored bezel to provide long-haul pilots with the info they needed as they circumnavigated the globe.

The GMT-Master’s 24-hour hand works in conjunction with the rotating bezel to make tracking a second time zone incredibly simple. When the bezel’s triangle is aligned to 12 o’clock, the red arrow hand points to the time on a 24-hour military scale, which in itself is valuable as a day/night indicator (at least if you’re a cave explorer). The usefulness of the complication really shines when the wearer rotates the bezel so that the numbers around the bezel correspond the a 2^nd time zone (such as Greenwich Mean Time), allowing the watch to track any two time zones in the world at once.

Five decades later, the GMT-Master and its “Pepsi” bezel has become a true icon of the watch world. Instantly recognizable and eternally stylish, the watch represents vintage Rolex at its best.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.