
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT, Pepsi Bezel, Model 1675, MK4 Dial, circa 1971
- Maker / attribution
- Rolex (maker)
- Date
- c. 1971
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- vws3496cs
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws3496cs)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT - Pepsi Bezel - Model 1675 - MK4 Dial - Box - c.1971 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws3496cs), this is a wristwatch by Rolex, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1971. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist
A Superb Vintage Rolex GMT Master Pepsi with a MK4 Dial in Fantastic Condition, Issued in circa 1971 and Sold with Original Box The Rolex GMT-Master ref. 1675, introduced in 1959, holds a significant place in horological history. Initially designed for Pan American World Airways pilots, the GMT-Master allowed aviators to track multiple time zones simultaneously—a critical feature for international flights. The ref. 1675 stood out with its distinctive "Pepsi" bezel, a bi-color red and blue insert representing day and night. This model featured a larger case than its predecessor, the ref. 6542, and introduced crown guards for enhanced durability. Powered by the robust Caliber 1565 movement (later upgraded to Caliber 1575), it offered precise timekeeping essential for professional use. Over its production run until 1980, the ref. 1675 saw various dial updates and bracelet changes but retained its iconic status among collectors and enthusiasts alike. Today, it remains a symbol of Rolex's innovation in aviation watches and is highly sought after for its historical significance and timeless design. What's on Offer A must-have watch for any discerning collector, this vintage 1970s GMT is in pre-owned incredible condition. The Mk4 dial is in superb shape and boasts beautifully aged lume on the hour plots and the corresponding lume on the iconic Mercedes hands, there is also original lume on the (scarce) all-red GMT hand which gives a nice punch of colour and brings in the Pepsi bezel with its striking blue and red colourway perfectly. A date aperture at 3 o'clock is encapsulated underneath a cyclops in the original acrylic crystal, for better visibility. The case, including the crown and crown guards, is in superb condition and the bracelet has been replaced with a brand new 78360 bracelet but the original 580 end pieces have been retained. The watch has recently been pressure tested and passed so it is water resistant. The watch has a real presence on the wrist, it's eye-catching colourway, iconic styling and meaty proportions are sure to inspire admiring glances. The watch is sold with its original box and is a fantastic purchase and we are delighted to offer it for sale in such superior vintage condition. Blink and you will miss this one!
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Dive and water-resistant watches
Keeping water and dust out of a wristwatch was a long-standing challenge. Rolex's screw-down Oyster case (1926) and Omega's Marine (1932) were landmarks; in the early 1950s Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms and Rolex's Submariner defined the professional dive watch with rotating bezels for timing dives, luminous dials and high water resistance. The ISO 6425 standard (1982) later codified what a 'diver's watch' must do.
Dive watches became icons of post-war design and exploration, and their evolution — helium escape valves, ceramic bezels, saturation-diving depth ratings — records the history of underwater work.
What to look for
- Unidirectional or bidirectional rotating bezel with minute markings.
- Screw-down crown and case back; depth rating printed on the dial.
- Luminous hands and markers (radium before c. 1960, tritium c. 1960–1998, then Super-LumiNova).
- Reference numbers on the case between the lugs or inside the back.
Dating clues
- Screw-down Oyster cases: from 1926.
- Professional dive watches: from 1953.
- Tritium 'T' marks on dials: c. 1960–1998.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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