Rolex GMT-Master Date Ref. 16758 - Brown Sunburst 'Nipple' Dial
The Rolex GMT-Master is one of the most historic and iconic watches the brand ever produced. Its origin dates back to a commission request by Pan American World Airways in the early 50’s for their fleet of pilots who needed access to different time zones.
These pieces would feature a similar design to another watch that Rolex was developing around that time, the Submariner, but would include a fourth hand running on 24-hr time, and a bi-colored bezel insert to represent AM/PM times. Those colors, naturally, would be the PanAm colors: Red & Blue. Thus, in 1953, the Ref. 6542 GMT-Master was born. These early pieces were ultimately, fragile arguably flawed in some ways, and were therefor succeeded by the updated Reference 1675 in 1959.
Like many Rolex models, the 1675 underwent many small changes over its 21-year production run, with a slew of dial, bezel, bracelet, and hand variations, and would eventually evolve into the 5-digit GMT-Master and GMT-Master IIs.
Enter the Reference 16758. These pieces carry over a very similar brown 'nipple' dial and brown bezel insert, while also upgrading the movement with a quickset date function, as well as increased water resistance by way of a sapphire crystal and case redesign.
The example that we have here dates to circa 1980 and comes to us in strong overall condition. The case has seen a light polishing, respecting factory case proportions with symmetrical lugs. It shows light signs of wear throughout with no damage or blemishes of note. Inside, the captivating sunburst brown dial retains vibrant sunburst finishing and exhibits a rich, deep brown almost 'lava' dial. The applied 'nipple' indices are filled with Tritium and exhibit an attractive and even patina, and the corresponding handset patches perfectly. The characteristic brown 'rootbeer' bezel insert remains in fantastic condition, showing only faint wear. This piece comes fitted to a matching yellow gold Jubilee bracelet with a signed adjustable blade-style clasp.
Solid gold sports watches present great value next to their steel siblings... This honest example in particular even a greater value play.
Condition Report & Details
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Every Oliver & Clarke timepiece comes with a one-year mechanical warranty starting from the date of delivery. We ensure all watches are in wonderful working condition and are ready for daily wear. Many have been fully serviced by our team of watchmakers.
Please note:
- Due to the vintage or antique nature of many of our watches, they may not keep time as accurately as when new, nor as precisely as quartz or electronic devices.
- We do not guarantee water resistance and do not warranty against moisture or water damage. Deliberate exposure to water or steam is not recommended.
Warranty Exclusions:
- Internal or external damage caused by accidents, mishandling, abuse, modifications, or services performed by anyone other than our authorized personnel.
- Our warranty is non-transferable.
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At Oliver & Clarke, we meticulously vet each watch to ensure its authenticity and quality. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and our mission is to help you find the perfect timepiece. If you have any questions, we are here to assist you promptly.
Our Guarantee:
- Each timepiece is thoroughly evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our expert team before it is offered for sale.
- We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise stated.
- The authenticity of each watch is guaranteed in perpetuity.
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