The Rolex GMT-Master, a symbol of sophistication and versatility, has a storied history that dates back to 1954. It all started when Rolex received a request from Pan American Airways (Pan Am) to develop a technical pilot's watch capable of displaying two time zones simultaneously. With the advent of commercial transcontinental flights, Pan Am needed a watch for their long-haul international flight crews that would enable them to keep track of time in multiple locations. GMT, which stands for Greenwich Mean Time, is the universal time standard that regulates the world's clocks and serves as the basis for aviation planning and schedules. The Rolex GMT-Master is equipped with a fourth 24-hour hand that displays the same time zone as the standard 12-hour hand but on a 24-hour scale. This GMT hand allows wearers to set the watch to GMT or any other time zone and then adjust the offset using the rotating 24-hour bezel to display a second timezone. This remarkable feature makes the Rolex GMT-Master a must-have for anyone who frequently travels across multiple time zones, allowing them to easily and precisely track two time zones. The Rolex ref. 16750 was the third GMT-Master model introduced by the Crown and was the direct successor to the long-running model, the ref. 1675. First introduced in 1979 and discontinued in 1988, the ref. 16750 only had a short window of production compared to its constituents, especially considering the very transitional nature of the reference. The most notable upgrade initially introduced with the GMT-Master ref. 16750 was the employment of the cal. 3035 quickset movement, a first for the GMT at the time. Due to the very transitional nature of this ref. 16750, the 9-year production window is broken into two dial variations, the early matte dial version, and the later glossy dial version. SPECS Stock # RLXGMT16750-84/2 Brand Rolex Style GMT-Master Model 16750 Serial 83XXXXX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Glossy Black W/ WG Surrounds Millimeters 40 Bracelet Rolex 78360 Oyster Bracelet W/ 580 End Pieces CASE & BRACELET The excellent case features thick and even lugs that display some honest signs of use and light evidence of being polished in the past. The original black bezel features a subtle fade, with light wear present, remaining in excellent overall condition. The original Rolex 78360 Oyster bracelet with 580 end pieces retains 11 links that show minor stretch and will fit up to a 7-inch wrist. DIAL & HANDS The original black dial with white gold surround markers is in excellent vintage condition, and has achieved a very subtle, yet attractive semi-matte finish to the patina. The dial itself exhibits no actual marks or damage. The tritium lume plots feature a subtle eggshell patina and exhibit no degradation when inspected under UV light. The original tritium hands match the dial perfectly and show no degradation under UV light inspection. The white date wheel is original with "open" 6's and 9's. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is keeping time, but the service history is unknown. A movement service can be purchased upon request.
