Rolex GMT-Master 16753 "Root Beer"

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Root beer: A sweet, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, soda of which the primary flavour is obtained from the sassafras tree.However, in terms of watch aficionados, rootbeer is the nickname of the Rolex GMT-Master 16753. Let's start with the 1675, which is the Rolex GMT-Master nicknamed "Pepsi" because of the blue/red-coloured bezel. This is one of Rolex's most popular vintage watches nowadays. The GMT-Master was only available in stainless steel or yellow gold and came in different bezel and dial variations. Nevertheless, it was not available yet in the stainless steel and yellow gold combination. This all changed thanks to the 16753 a.k.a. "Root beer", which was the first bicolor Rolex sportswatch.This example dates back to 1979 and has a beautifully faded "Root beer" bezel. People often mistakenly call a GMT-Master with a brown bezel a "Root beer" while only the models with a brown/cream-coloured bezel are true "Root beers". The 18k yellow-gold and stainless steel Jubilee bracelet is in great condition and barely has any stretch, which is quite rare for a nearly thirty-year old bicolor bracelet. The stainless steel case, measuring 40mm in diameter, houses the caliber 3075. So, it has the quickset-date function. The dial was available in black or brown and this one has a brown dial with 18k yellow-gold applied indices. Thanks to its index, the dial is better known as the nipple dial, because... Well, just have a look at the picture and you will get the point. What we, at Amsterdam Vintage Watches, really love about this specimen, is the discolouration of the indices, which is especially visible at the 12-hour position. This has probably to do with the use of a certain type of (bad) lacquer by Rolex.It's also nicknamed "The Clint Eastwoord" because he loved and wore this watch too. Getting this piece will instantly make you a badass and give you the right to call anybody 'a punk', punk!

Introduction

Rolex GMT-MasterFasten your seatbelts for the story of the Rolex GMT-Master. Aviation company Pan-Am requested Rolex to create a wristwatch that would display multiple time-zones simultaneously, as their flights got longer; crossing multiple time-zones. Rolex came up with the GMT-Master (‘GMT’ stands for ‘Greenwich Mean Time’) in 1954. The watch features a date-function and an extra hour hand (with triangle) that points out the second time zone on the bi-directional turning, 24hour bezel.Still linked to aviation and although meant for professional use, it enjoys a much wider fan base ever since it first saw light. Over the years it underwent some changes and there are so many wonderful variations of this all-time Rolex classic. Some GMT’s are great as a single purchase, others are a wonderful addition to any collection and some of them can be considered as the crowning glory.REF. 1675Introduced in 1959 and with a very long production run of little over 20 years: the 1675! On this model they added the ‘pointed crown guards’ (1675 with PCG AKA ‘Cornino)’ that got replaced by regular rounded crown guards in 64/65. The dial also underwent some changes from glossy gilt chapterring to a matte radial dial in the end. (with a lot of variations in between, like the rare ‘exclamation mark’, ‘underline’ and ‘Double-swiss’ dials). There was a change in the red GMT hand as well as the small arrow was replaced by a bigger one.The 1675 was mainly produced in steel, but was also available in 18k yellow gold or a combination of both materials. In the early 70s it became the first Rolex Professional watch with – optional – factory fitted jubilee bracelet.

Specifications

Shipping

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