Watch of the Week - How An airline company created a watch
The Rolex GMT Master is historically one of the most popular and recognizable GMT watches to date, with its most popular model being the Pepsi with its blue and red bezel. Released back in 1952 for Pan-Am pilots, the Ref. 6542 featured a GMT hand, which helped the Pan-Am pilots keep track of home time while traveling to different countries, offering two time zones. Nowadays, we know it as Pepsi. The famous rotating red and blue bezel was for Pan-Am as they came to Rolex looking for a watch for their pilots. The 6542 came in at 38mm and was strapped to your wrist with an oyster bracelet. It featured a Gilt dial, which is highly sought after today. There were no crown guards either; those came a little later. In the first few years of production, the bezel was made from a bakelite material, which was updated to aluminum for durability.
In 1959, Rolex released the infamous 1675, many collectors' dream vintage GMT master. It kept the 38mm case size but came with the addition of crown guards. The 1675 had a 20-year run, being phased out in 1980. Rolex released their last version of the GMT master, the 16750 in 40mm, the first GMT master to carry this case size; it was in production until 1988. In 1989, the new Rolex GMT Master II, the 16710, also came in 40mm. The biggest difference between the 16750 and the 16710 is the ability to set the 24-hour GMT separately from your home time.
In 2008 we saw the biggest shift in the GMT Master II with a new modern case, bracelet, and bezel. Still 40mm, the case was bulkier and just had a more modern look; the bracelet was new as it had polished center links and the addition of a ceramic bezel. In 2018, the 126710 debuted at Baselworld; in terms of look and case size, it was very similar, although, under the hood, there was a new movement that doubled the power reserve to 70 hours.
Why Is the GMT so special to me?
I've always loved the GMT master ii, from modern to vintage. They are one of my favorite Rolex models; I have never been a fan of the Submariner, I have never been diving, and I do not plan to anytime soon, so its functionality means very little to me.
The GMT, on the other hand, serves a great purpose in my life as I enjoy traveling a great deal, and this allows me to keep home time and current time wherever I am. It also allows me to keep tabs on those I love when traveling, whether a friend took a leap across the pond for a week or family in California; it makes me feel connected to them and ensures there will be no early morning calls.
Astecily putting functionality aside, the GMT bezel has always been more appealing to me. It's much more balanced in my eyes. I find the colors and different offerings more interesting. The GMT hand adds a little more complexity to the dial over your standard hour, Minute, and second hand.
