1978 Rolex GMT-Master "Pepsi" 1675 MK5 Dial Service Bezel
Ref: 1675

Specification

Points of Mention

This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original  Rolex box or paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original 20mm Jubilee bracelet with a signed folding clasp. The watch is from Circa. 1978 and is sold in worn condition, but overall fair condition as you can see. The dial is an MK5 dial, the hands are original, and the bezel is an original Rolex service bezel. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

The Watch

In 1905, German-born Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis set up a company in London that imported Swiss movements which were installed in British cases and sold to jewellers who put their names on the dials. Recognising the potential for their brand, Wilsdorf created the brand name Rolex in 1908. In 1910, a Rolex became the first wristwatch to carry the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, awarded by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne, Switzerland. Demand for Rolex watches rose swiftly, and British taxes on the Swiss movements Rolex used prompted Wilsdorf to move the business to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1919. With production costs lowered, Wilsdorf quickly set out to solve the age-old problem of moisture and dust entering a watch case and damaging the movement. The Rolex watchmakers came up with a fully sealed watch case, which Wilsdorf named the Oyster, and released to an appreciative audience in 1926. In 1931, Rolex introduced the first automatic winding wristwatch, giving it the legendary name Oyster Perpetual. In 1945, they released the Datejust which was the first watch to have the date jump instantaneously at midnight. The 1950s saw a whole lot of releases such as the Air-King (1958), the Explorer (1953), the Submariner (1953), the GMT Master (1955), the Day-Date (1956), the electromagnetic field resistant Milgauss (1956), the Lady-Datejust (1957) and the first Deep Sea model (1960). Wilsdorf’s death in 1960, saw ownership of Rolex S.A. (a collection of sub-companies) passed to the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation which was founded by Wilsdorf in 1945, the mission of which is simply to sustain Rolex S.A. indefinitely. The GMT-Master story begins in 1955 when their very first pilot watch was made for Panam pilot's ref 6542, which featured a bakelite bezel. It was replaced with the ref. 1675 which was in production from 1959 until 1980 when the ref. 16750 was introduced until Rolex replaced it with the ref. 16700 in 1988. At NASA Jack Swigert of Apollo 13 wore one in 1970, and US Air Force pilots wore them. It was also worn by Sean Connery in Goldfinger in 1964.

Here we have a 1978 Rolex GMT-Master "Pepsi" 1675 with a 40mm stainless steel case, ergonomically shaped with its subtle curve to the lugs making for a very comfortable fit on the wrist. The polished sides transition with the brushed top surface. Crown guards protect the screw-down crown from any knocks. Its bezel has the iconic blue and red “Pepsi” insert which is an official Rolex service bezel. 24-hour numerals radiate the bezel, the red indicates the daytime while the blue signifies the nighttime. The plexiglass crystal sits slightly above the bezel and has the cyclops magnifier over the date at 3 o’clock. The black dial has Tritium (which has nicely aged) filled discs and batons for hours. Mercedes hands with Tritium infill complete with a sweeping second hand with a lollipop counterbalance. The red GMT hand has a Tritium filled arrowhead. On the reverse, a plain coin-edged case back. Inside an Automatic Rolex Cal. 1570, 26 jewels, 19,800 beats per hour, it has hacking for your convenience. It is fitted on a 20mm Jubilee bracelet with a signed folding clasp.

Personal Note

It isn't every day you get a nice and original Rolex 1675 through the door, especially at the same time as a 16700! Such a fantastic opportunity for a collector to add a wonderful piece of Rolex history to their collection, the condition is honest and original and perfectly ready to be worn and enjoyed! I wouldn't wait on this one if you're interested as I suspect it'll go fairly quickly.