Rolex GMT Master - Watch History

Like many Rolex Watches, the GMT Master was created from a request for a utility watch to fill a niche market (at the time). The Rolex GMT Master was designed as a watch catered towards pilots because of their tendencies to travel through multiple time zones. "GMT" stands for Greenwich Mean Time, the standard time zone in that era. While the Greenwich Mean Time has been replaced by the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) since then, the name "GMT Master" has stuck (although pilots now use it to read UTC). 

Pan American Airlines requested a watch that could display time in two different time zones in 1954 and Rolex launched the GMT Master in response. This watch was a hit with Pan American employees as well as other airline companies. Additionally, Pan American Airlines also requested a small number of GMT Masters to be made with a white dial, designed to be worn by the ground employees while the air employees would wear black dial GMT Masters. The small production numbers of the white dial GMT Master watches has contributed greatly to their desirability.

Rolex GMT Master - Model Differences

The first model of the GMT Master (6542) were not marked with "GMT Master" but a depth rating. These models also had a bezel made with an acrylic material "Bakelite", which was used to minimize reflection in aviation applications. The Bakelite bezels were quickly replaced with the traditional metal bezel due to durability issues.

Rolex would give the GMT Master a host of changes in the 1960's; the lettering on the dial would be changed to white (formerly gold), the date numbers would be changed to black (from red and black), the 24 hour hand unique to the GMT master would be given a larger arrow at the tip, the words "Swiss T<25" would be added to the bottom of the dial (due to a change in materials used for printing), and crown guards would be added. In 1975, the watch would display the badge "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" instead of just "Official Certified Chronometer".

In 1976, the "hack" ability was added to the GMT Master, which allows the wearer to stop the watch momentarily in order to sync up with another time source. In 1981 the watch was given a new movement as well as the "Quick Set" ability as well as a crystal change (to Sapphire). Soon afterwards, the GMT Master would be replaced by the GMT Master II (model 16710).

Rolex GMT Master II Information ...