Rolex GMT Master History

[charisps]

                                               Timeline




MODELS


Ref. 6542 aka Pussy Galore
Production Period: 1954-1959
Model Name: Rolex GMT Master
Caliber: 1036 (1954-1959), 1065 (1957-1959), 1066 (1957-1959)
Pressure proof to 50m/165ft

This was the first GMT Master.
It was launched 1954. It was developed on the basis of a regular Turn-O-Graph (Ref. 6202). The modifications were a different bezel and a modified movement.

The first version of the Ref. 6542 had a bakelite bezel insert. As this bezel was likely to crack, it got replaced by a metal bezel in 1956.
The bakelite bezel was luminous.

The name Pussy Galore originates from a character in a James Bond movie, wearing this watch.




Ref. 1675 (/0)
Production Period: 1959-1980
Model Name: Rolex GMT Master
Caliber:
1565 (1959-1964) 18000A/h
1575 (1965-1980) 19600A/h (hacking introduced 1971)
Pressure proof to 50m/165ft
Bracelet: Oyster 78360, Jubilé 62510
Glass: Acrylic crystal
Indexes: Tritium
Crown guards introduced, pointed crown guards until 1964/65 (with chapter ring dial)..

New inprint on dial: "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified".

Until late 60s: Small GMT-hand, afterwards large GMT-hand.

Early 1970s: All black version introduced.

The hands are in the following order: GMT/Hour/Minute/Second see this picture.

1959-1964:

Caliber 1565
Gloss dial
Thin case
1965-1980

Caliber 1575
Matt dial with white printing.
Other Variants:

Ref. 1675/8 Gold (Leather or Oysterbracelet 7208/8, Jubilébracelet 6311/8).
Ref. 1675/3 Steel/Gold (Oysterbracelet 78363, Jubilébracelet 62523), 14k gold.

Both variants: Early versions with golden crown on dial, late versions just with imprinted crown.







Ref. 16750
Production Period: 1981-1988
Model Name: Rolex GMT Master
Caliber: 3075, 28800A/h, hacking, quickset
Pressure proof to 100m/330ft
Bracelet: Oyster 78360, Jubilé 62510
Glass: Acrylic crystal
Indexes: Tritium
The 16750 followed the 1675, introducing the quickset feature. With this change, the order of the hands got changed:

1675: GMT/Hour/Minute/Second
16750: Hour/GMT/Minute/Second
Two different variants of the dial:

Matt, without white gold indexes - rare.
Glossy, with white gold indexes (identical to the newer GMTs). Rolex switched the dial during production (approx. serial 9XXXXXX / 1986). This dial was first introduced without 'Date'-imprint, later versions show this imprint. During service, many matt dials got replaced by glossy ones.

Other Variants:
Ref. 16753 steel/yellow gold (Oysterbracelet 78363, Jubilébracelet 62523)
Ref. 16758 yellow gold (Leather or Oysterbracelet 7206/8, Jubilébracelet 6311/8); sapphire crystal




Ref. 16760 aka Fat Lady aka Sophia Loren
Production Period:1983-1988
Model Name: Rolex GMT Master II
Caliber: 3085, 28800A/h, hacking, quickset (24-hour-hand)
Pressure proof to 100m/330ft
Bracelet: Oyster 78360, Jubilé 62510
Glass: Sapphire crystal
Indexes: Tritium
The Ref. 16760 is the first GMT Master II.

It is nicknamed Fat Lady because of it's extra thick case.

First GMT with white gold indices borders and sapphire crystal, steel was the only option.

Was only offered with the red/black bezel, which was also a new combination.

With the new caliber 3085 the 24-hour hand became Independently adjustable. The seconds hand only stopped when the crown was pulled all the way out -> accurate time could be kept while setting the watch.

Extra large crown gards.





......to be continued

[george_]

[charisps]

Ref. 16700
Production Period: 1988-1999
Model Name: Rolex GMT Master
Caliber: 3175, 28800A/h, hacking, quickset (direct)
Pressure proof to 100m/330ft
Bracelet: Oyster 78360 and 78790 (Oysterlock starting 1989), Jubilé 62510
Glass: Sapphire crystal
Indexes:
Tritum up to U-Series 1997: T<25 dial
Luminova starting 1998: Swiss dial (variant: Luminova on T<25 dial)


1988 the Ref. 16700 replaced the Ref. 16750. The Ref. 16700 was cheaper compared to the Ref. 16710 which got introduced at the same time.
The caliber 3175 (same functions as the 3075) had still the non-independant hourhand which was the main difference between the Ref. 16700 and the Ref. 16710.

New introduced with this watch:
Sapphire crystal
White gold indexes (altough some predecessors (Ref. 16750) were also already equipped with these).
New case

Date-wheel has vintage open numbers until 1992/1993.

Only available in Stainless Steel.
Bezel colors:
BLRO, Blue/Red aka Pepsi (bleu/rouge), (Bezel 315-16700-6)
LN, Black, (Bezel 315-16700-1)






Ref. 16710
Production Period: 1989-2007
Model Name: Rolex GMT Master II
Caliber: 3185 (late models with 3186), 28800A/h, hacking, quickset (24-hour-hand)
Pressure proof to 100m/330ft
Bracelet: Oyster 78360 and 78790 (Oysterlock), Jubilé 62510
Glass: Sapphire crystal
Bezel: Anodized aluminum, 120 clicks
Indexes:
Tritium (until 1997): T<25 dial
Luminova (1998/99): Swiss dial
Superluminova (2000-2007): Swiss made dial

The Ref. 16710 replaced 1989 the Ref. 16760 featuring a new, but identical functioning caliber and a slimmer design.

Variant: Luminova on a T<25 dial (1998)
Evolution:

1997/2000: Tritium -> Luminova -> Superluminova
2000: Solid end link bracelet indroduced (SEL).
2003: Laser crown introduced.
2003: No holes case starting (late Y-series).
2007: New certificate (plastic/credit card size) introduced (Z-series).
Late 2007: Caliber 3186 instead of 3185 (late Z-series and the M-series).

Available with three different bezels:
Red/Black aka Coke (Bezel 315-16760-7)
BLRO, Blue/Red aka Pepsi (bleu/rouge), (Bezel 315-16700-6)
LN, Black (lunette noire), (Bezel 315-16700-1)
Other variants:

Ref. 16713 steel/yellow gold aka Tigerauge (Eye of the Tiger) (Bezel: 315-16713-5 or 315-16718-1); Oysterbracelet 78363 and 78793 (Oysterlock), Jubilébracelet 62523
Ref. 16718 yellow gold (Bezel 315-16718-3); Oysterbracelet 7206/8 and 78798 (Oysterlock), Jubilébracelet 8386/8







Ref. 116710
Production Period: 2007-...
Model Name: GMT Master II
Caliber: 3186, 28800A/h, hacking, quickset (24-hour-hand)
Pressure proof to 100m/330ft
Bracelet: Oyster 78200
Glass: Sapphire crystal
Indexes: Superluminova
The completely redesigned GMT Master II was presented in 2005 (only yellow gold: Ref. 16718 LN) and launched as anniversary model (all green dial, but later the black dial became an option). At the Basel fair 2006 the steel/yellow gold version (Ref. 116713LN) was introduced. A year later, the Ref. 116710LN (steel only) was shown at the same place.

Compared to it's predecessor (Ref. 16710), the new watch features:

Triplock crown as compared to the twinlock crown of the old GMTs.
Anti-reflective cyclope lense.
Green 24-hour hand.
Maxi dial.
Ceramic bezel (24-clicks compared to 120 clicks). Numbers are made out of gold (gold, steel/gold versions) and platiunum (steelversion).
New bracelet: Polished center links, a more solid clasp (similar to the Daytona).
New movement: 3186, no new features but some improvements:
Hour hand is much smoother and more precise compared to the 3185.
New hairspring (Parachrom Bleu), which is less sensitive to temperature variations and less sensitive to magnetic fields. Made out of Niob and Hafnium.
Larger case.
ROLEX engraving on the inner bezel ring.
Rolex announced a new variant of the 116710 with a black-blue bezel at Baselworld 2013: Ref. 116710BLNR.The watch is now available in the stores.

Baselworld 2014: Rolex announced a new GMT-reference in white gold, the Ref. 116719 with a red and blue bezel.

Other variants:
Ref. 116713LN steel/yellow gold, Oysterbracelet 78203
Ref. 116718LN yellow gold, Oysterbracelet 78208
Ref. 116758SA
Ref. 116758SARU
Ref. 116758SANR
Ref. 116759SARU
Ref. 116759SA
Ref. 116759SANR
Ref. 116769TBR

[Stratos]

πολυ ωραιο Χαρη!!

[typos]

Πολυ ωραια ιστοριοπαρουσιαση για ενα αγαπημενο ρολογι! Μπραβο Χαρη για τη συγκεντρωση στοιχειων


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[nicolasg]

Μπράβο Χάρη

Κάποια στιγμή πρέπει να επικεντρωθώ σε αυτόν τον στόχο

[Vagelis]

Πολυ καλο θεμα για ενα πολυ αξιολογο ρολοι!

[capt-dim]

... Μπράβο Χάρη

[charisps]

Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ όλους! Το βρήκα πολύ ενδιαφέρον και είπα να το μοιραστώ μαζί σας. Άλλωστε μιλάμε για να ένα από τα πιο γνωστά μοντέλα παγκοσμίως.

[Vagelis]

Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ όλους! Το βρήκα πολύ ενδιαφέρον και είπα να το μοιραστώ μαζί σας. Άλλωστε μιλάμε για να ένα από τα πιο γνωστά μοντέλα παγκοσμίως...

...αν όχι το πιο γνωστό...!

[Βost]

Υπέροχο θέμα...και χρήσιμο με πολλές πληροφορίες ενός από τα πιο αγαπημένα μου ρολόγια...!!! Καλή δουλειά ...

[charisps]

Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ όλους! Το βρήκα πολύ ενδιαφέρον και είπα να το μοιραστώ μαζί σας. Άλλωστε μιλάμε για να ένα από τα πιο γνωστά μοντέλα παγκοσμίως...

...αν όχι το πιο γνωστό...!

πιο γνωστό από το sub?

[charisps]

Υπέροχο θέμα...και χρήσιμο με πολλές πληροφορίες ενός από τα πιο αγαπημένα μου ρολόγια...!!! Καλή δουλειά ...

Ευχαριστώ Αλέκο!

[Vagelis]

Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ όλους! Το βρήκα πολύ ενδιαφέρον και είπα να το μοιραστώ μαζί σας. Άλλωστε μιλάμε για να ένα από τα πιο γνωστά μοντέλα παγκοσμίως...

...αν όχι το πιο γνωστό...!

πιο γνωστό από το sub?

Ναι αυτό λέω!
Ένα από τα πιο γνωστά μοντέλα παγκοσμίως...αν όχι το πιο γνωστό!!!
Δηλαδή μάλλον το πιο γνωστό...

[stelakos]

Ωραίο θέμα χάρη μπράβο το πιο γνωστό δεν είναι το σαμπ;