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Old 16 July 2019, 11:00 AM   #1
pmartin1675/3
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14k or 18k gold in vintage GMT watches

Hello everyone!!

I have seen a lot Gmt´s from 70's in steel and gold (1675/3), but I don´t have clear why some of them were made with 14k gold and others with 18k gold.

What is the correct gold-making from 1675 ss/gold GMT'S???

I am going to be very please to have your comments!!

Regards.
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Old 16 July 2019, 02:56 PM   #2
TimeLord2
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Great question, I always wondered about that too. I have a 1675 from about 1972 with a 14K and stainless bracelet made in America. Not sure if the bezel material is 14k or 18K.
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Old 17 July 2019, 05:22 AM   #3
Fredrik
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As far as I know there used to be a lot more expensive to import gold that was 18k than 14k into the US. I also know that in for instance Sweden it was illegal to sell something and call it gold if it wasn't at least 18k.

In my experience 14k gold in old Rolex G/S watches are from the US, the rest of the world got 18k. There might be a few more markets that got 14k?
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Old 17 July 2019, 05:45 AM   #4
68shark
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I had a 1980 early 16753. Bracelet marked 14K. I presume bezel was also. Believe 18K was mid 80's intro in North America but not sure.
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Old 17 July 2019, 08:57 AM   #5
pmartin1675/3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fredrik View Post
As far as I know there used to be a lot more expensive to import gold that was 18k than 14k into the US. I also know that in for instance Sweden it was illegal to sell something and call it gold if it wasn't at least 18k.

In my experience 14k gold in old Rolex G/S watches are from the US, the rest of the world got 18k. There might be a few more markets that got 14k?

I have two 1675/3 Gmt's from 1973, both came with Mexican jubilee bracelet and both were made with 14k gold (bezel, crown, bracelet and dial).

The thing is that I have seen a lot of 70's Gmt's on internet and no matter the year (between 70's and early 80's) there were made with both kind of gold.

I am going to make a research because I have seen some vintage gmt master brochures that stablished that the ss/gold version were made with 4k gold.

Regards!!
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Old 17 July 2019, 09:00 AM   #6
pmartin1675/3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 68shark View Post
I had a 1980 early 16753. Bracelet marked 14K. I presume bezel was also. Believe 18K was mid 80's intro in North America but not sure.
I noticed that the reference 1675/3 is the one with no quick set date featured and 14k gold on it and the 16753 is the opposite with 18k gold, which one do you have??

I would like to find some documents that prove the discussion (magazines, brochures, etc).

Regards.
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Old 17 July 2019, 09:35 AM   #7
springer
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The GMT 16753 came in both 14K and 18K. The early ones are 14K. As far as when they changed to 18k, my best guess would be around 1982/83.

All the GMT two-tone 1675s that I have seen have been 14K.
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Old 17 July 2019, 11:08 AM   #8
pmartin1675/3
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I found the document that I was looking days ago.... It corresponds to the GMT 1675 references…
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Old 17 July 2019, 11:14 AM   #9
pmartin1675/3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by springer View Post
The GMT 16753 came in both 14K and 18K. The early ones are 14K. As far as when they changed to 18k, my best guess would be around 1982/83.

I´m not shure that the 16753 referece came in 14k, but i'm not really shure...

All the GMT two-tone 1675s that I have seen have been 14K.
You are totally right in this point
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