Rolex GMT-Master ref. 16753 'Root Beer', Sunburst Brown 'Nipple' Dial

Dealer description — Oliver & Clarke

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. This Reference introduced a larger case size with crown-guards and a bi-colored blue + red bezel insert made of aluminum. The Ref. 1675 underwent many small changes over its 21-year production run, with a slew of dial, bezel, bracelet, and hand variations. You know, Rolex stuff. And eventually, the 1675 would evolve into the 5-digit GMT-Master, one of which, we have here. These pieces, at a glance, retain the look and feel of a 1675, but now utilize a 'quickset' date function with the updated Calibre 3075 movement. The piece that we have here, a Ref. 16753, is a two-tone stainless steel and yellow gold example known to collectors and enthusiasts as a 'Root Beer.' Dating to circa 1983, this example comes to us in excellent overall condition, with a thick and symmetrical Oyster case, an attractive dial inside, and its matching Jubilee bracelet. It shows normal signs of wear throughout with no damage or blemishes or note, and has been spared any previous polishing. The yellow gold bezel houses a brown insert, which is wonderfully preserved in excellent condition. Brown in color, the dial inside features a captivating sunburst finishing, rather than matte finishing like its predecessors. It carries over the applied 'nipple' indices, which exhibit a rich and even patina, with a handset to match. Once more, the Jubilee bracelet is a correct '50' unit made specifically for this reference. Overlooked for many years, these 5-digit Professional models carry over virtually everything that collectors love about its predecessor, but have that added functionality of a quickset date. And though not quite as old as their predecessors, these are becoming very difficult to find in honest condition like the example that we have here.