The Rolex GMT-Master 6542 Posted by Clyde Roper

The Rolex GMT-Master 6542 Here at the Time & Gems Blog we are starting a new series on rare and valuable vintage Rolex models. Hopefully the series will be able to give readers thumbnail histories of some interesting models and help explain their cachet and value?to collectors. This first installment will deal with a particularly unusual and valuable watch, the GMT-Master Reference 6542.
Sometimes called the ?Pussy Galore? Rolex after the name of the fetching Bond girl/aviatrix who wore one in Goldfinger, the 6542 was the first GMT model offered by Rolex and indeed the first watch in the world that simultaneously displayed the time in two different time zones. The watch came about because of a request from Pan Am airlines in 1953. To help their pilots deal with the new phenomenon of jet lag, Pan Am wanted a watch that would help the birdmen keep track of both local time and the master time used in navigation, the so-called Greenwich Mean Time or local time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. This is where the GMT in GMT-Master comes from. (Astronomers no longer use the term Greenwich Mean Time, by the way. A new standard called Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) became the norm in 1972. GMT is still the same thing as Western European Time, though.)
The GMT ingeniously employed a separate 24 hour hand with a small triangle pointer that corresponded with a rotating bezel numbered 1-24. This was how the second time zone was registered. The 6542 went on sale in 1954 and was an instant hit with both the pilots of Pan Am other airlines and the public at large. The watch was a ruggedly handsome one that perfectly fitted the times; it was the height of Jet Age chic.
So what makes the early GMT?the 6542?so special? For one thing, it only lasted about six or seven years in the line up before being supplanted by the later 1675. True, it was still available in limited numbers in 18 carat gold after 1961 according to Vintage Rolex Sports Models by Skeet and Urul, but after ?61 the 6542 was pretty much history.

There are some other things besides plain rarity that makes the 6542 such a standout for collectors. Perhaps the most unique thing about the 6542 in original condition is the distinctive acrylic insert for the bezel. Often called bakelite by collectors, the material was a deliberate choice on the part of Rolex. The thinking behind it was that the muted colors of the insert would avoid reflections that could distract the pilots. In practice, the inserts proved fragile and were eventually upgraded to the metal ones we all know and love in standard Submariners and later GMTs. Often replaced during servicing, very few original acrylic inserts have survived over the years, making them extremely valuable in their own right.
Another thing about the 6542 that makes it distinct from later models is the lack of crown guards around the winding crown. It shares this feature with the earliest Submariners. Perhaps in the eyes of many aficionado collectors, one of the most alluring things about the 6542 is that they were all gilt/gloss dial watches. By that we mean the dials were a glossy, vibrant black color and the minutes markers were so-called gilt or gold colored. Later watches were much more muted with matte dials and simple white markers. The combination of acrylic bezel insert and glossy gilt dials makes the 6542 arguably the most distinctive and beautiful vintage Rolex sports model out there. And one of the most expensive!
Today, even in the midst of a worldwide economic downturn, average complete 6542s with their original dials and inserts are starting around $30,000 USD. Exceptional examples can push up towards 100K. This is significantly more than the much less rare 1675 models, which can be found in nice shape for under 5K without too much trouble.
So take note of that acrylic bezel, gloss/gilt dial, and no crown guard case the next time you see a Rolex GMT in a pawn shop or in grandpa?s jewelry box. You just might be looking at a very special watch. A few small details can really make a big difference in desirability and price to a collector.
pictures via http://doubleredseadweller.com/gmt.htm
I have this 6542 in good condition. It has been in the family since its purchase. I am told that the dial is not the original. Probably replaced by Rolex. Series is 427xxx. Can you give me an idea of its worth?
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