Inherited a GMT Master 6542. Hoping for some info.

[Karl.]

My dad purchased this GMT Master new in 1958. It was his dive watch in the navy. In 1962 it was damaged. The same year he sent it to Rolex for repairs. I have been told the dial, hands and bezel was possibly replaced at that time. I am inexperienced with vintage watches and was hoping for some input.

Thanks

[roh123]

Redone dial and everything except the case is service parts. It is a nice watch to wear and enjoy.

[pts1956]

I’m by no means an expert so perhaps you should await their feedback. But from my own knowledge I concur with roh123, looks from the photos like a refinished dial plus looks like service parts , 24 hr hand should be small triangle to be correct. ( better pictures would help determine authenticity ) The date wheel has been replaced as it should have red even numbers. Not sure about the case either engraving looks odd (too small) and I’d expect to see Registered Design engraved above the reference for a 1958 case. I wouldn’t expect it to come back from a Rolex service with those parts back in the day. Value wise you’d need to look at website like chrono24 , but IF it is as it appears value is badly effected.

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[springer]

[QUOTE=pts1956;10085750]I concur with roh123, looks from the photos like a refinished dial ( better pictures would determine) plus service parts , 24 hr hand should be small triangle to be correct. Plus the chapter ring has been replaced should have red even numbers. A decent wearable everyday watch though.
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I believe he meant the date wheel being red not the chapter ring

[pts1956]

[QUOTE=springer;10085785]

Originally Posted by pts1956

I concur with roh123, looks from the photos like a refinished dial ( better pictures would determine) plus service parts , 24 hr hand should be small triangle to be correct. Plus the chapter ring has been replaced should have red even numbers. A decent wearable everyday watch though.
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I believe he meant the date wheel being red not the chapter ring

Bang head , yes JP I did , regards


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[Dan S]

Some of it is clearly newer than 1962, so you'll probably never be able to determine the whole history, and because of the replacement parts, the sentimental value to you far exceeds the value to anyone else.

I say just enjoy the heck out of it and don't go down the rabbit hole. Don't try to figure out when and where the parts were added, and don't even think about value.

[Rafabond]

I would doubt this dial a lot, sure it is from Rolex?

[Wahlberg]

I wish I could see the original dial when it was replaced.

[Karl.]

Thanks for the insight so far. The watch has been serviced by ROLEX in Switzerland (1962ish) and a vintage watch/certified rolex repair shop mainly dealing with old ROLEX watches. He actually offered me a fair amount of money (thats why Im interested in the value). I turned him down for sentimental reasons.

[waspy1]

First question is why a Navy diver was using a GMT watch for diving? I guess that’s how it got damaged in the first place. It’s a great piece of history and a wonderful family heirloom.


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[Gecko10]

Originally Posted by waspy1

First question is why a Navy diver was using a GMT watch for diving? I guess that’s how it got damaged in the first place. It’s a great piece of history and a wonderful family heirloom.


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Same thought occurred to me

[frackas]

That 6542 case engraving does not look right.

[Karl.]

Thanks so far for the replies

I believe the watch was damaged and sent to ROLEX in Switzerland 1962ish. I was born 1964 and know it was before I was born. The watch was given to me in 94. I had the watch serviced by a certified ROLEX dealer in about 2004. Two years ago I took it to a vintage watch shop/certified ROLEX dealer who mainly deals with vintage ROLEX watches. I was going to service it but decided to wait because of the cost. He offered me a fair amount of money for the watch which I turned down because of sentimental reasons. Thats why I was curious about the estimated value.

My dad was a jet mechanic and weatherman in the navy. He would go diving a few times a week for fun while stationed in Gaum. Many times 100 foot plus while wearing the watch. Only if he knew at that time the value today.

[1665fan]

The part with the serial number should have at least some rubbing from the bracelet, I looks new and the font looks off...

[jlovda]

Sorry for being ignorant but shouldn't a GMT this old have "tiny" GMT hand?

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by jlovda

Sorry for being ignorant but shouldn't a GMT this old have "tiny" GMT hand?

Yup, but as mentioned earlier, all the hands are replacement/service hands

[alwayshere]

alot of things on this watch doesn't look right.

dial is clearly refinished as its missing basic elements of a rolex watch (re-dial)
crown looks odd too? maybe the angle

[STEELINOX]

Originally Posted by roh123

Redone dial and everything except the case is service parts. It is a nice watch to wear and enjoy.

Originally Posted by Dan S

Some of it is clearly newer than 1962, so you'll probably never be able to determine the whole history, and because of the replacement parts, the sentimental value to you far exceeds the value to anyone else.

I say just enjoy the heck out of it and don't go down the rabbit hole. Don't try to figure out when and where the parts were added, and don't even think about value.

Just enjoy it, and don't worry - be happy = its a ROLEX ~ !

[Verdi]

Hi,

If funds are available, give the watch service, and you can, also, change the dial and hads
Rolex can supply a service dial and hands.

The watch will look amazing and shall work fine for another 20 years.

[TheDude]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

The part with the serial number should have at least some rubbing from the bracelet, I looks new and the font looks off...

My thoughts exactly.




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[1675-David]

I think the reference engraving looks kinda strange, not only the font and the pristine condition of the engraving but also the position of the engraving, On the early 6542's without "REGISTERED DESIGN" the reference number was still placed above the center line, in the same position it is with "REGISTERED DESIGN" except without. Hope that makes sense. Needless to say I'm pretty sceptical as to the originality of the case and all the evidence points to the case also being a service unit. It would be interesting to see the movement

[Vincent65]

That crown...

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by TheDude

My thoughts exactly.




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Fake case that’s for sure....

[1675-David]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

Fake case that’s for sure....

glad you cleared that up for us...

[alwayshere]

At this rate, not sure how much ‘value’ this watch has...

Looks like not much if it is real at all

[Dan S]

Ugh ... this thread is such a train-wreck. If only the OP hadn't asked about value. At this point I'm honestly hoping that the whole story was made-up, and people aren't really picking apart someone's heirloom.

[othertbone]

Originally Posted by Karl.

Thanks for the insight so far. The watch has been serviced by ROLEX in Switzerland (1962ish) and a vintage watch/certified rolex repair shop mainly dealing with old ROLEX watches. He actually offered me a fair amount of money (thats why Im interested in the value). I turned him down for sentimental reasons.

Dial doesn't look right, but others can help more in this regard.

I can comment on selling to the dealer and figuring out the piece's value. You can be sure it is worth a lot more than the dealer is offering. Remember, he will mark it up and put it in his shop window tomorrow.

[Karl.]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

Fake case that’s for sure....

Hmmm, so what you are suggesting is ROLEX put a fake case on the watch when it was sent in for repairs...
Good to know.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by othertbone

Dial doesn't look right, but others can help more in this regard.

You mean even for a service replacement dial it doesn't look right?

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by othertbone

Dial doesn't look right, but others can help more in this regard.

Originally Posted by Kingface66

You mean even for a service replacement dial it doesn't look right?

Already addressed above multiple times.