Vintage Rolex GMT Master 1675 - Info Reques

[jeffkoons]

Hello,

My friend has a ‘Vintage Rolex GMT Master 1675’. The watch was his grandfather’s watch who died a short time ago. He wants to sell it and I’m interested on it but I’m not expeienced about Rolex watches so not sure if it is authentic or not.

My friend said that this watch was used by his grandparents in ancient times. Are there any old time replicas of this watches? If yes, is it looks like a replica?

I did a little research on the internet and saw that these watches have very different versions according to the year of manufacture and maybe various country markets.

For example, the bezels of many watches belonging to the same year are very different from each other. Why could this be due?

Based on the details that appear, I would like to find out if the watch is original, which version it is and which year it belongs to.

Any doubts about the authenticity of this watch?

I would be very happy if you could share with me all the details you know about this watch. According to your comments, I will buy this watch and it will be my first Rolex.

Thank you so much.

[Dan S]

The long-E dial provides some hints about when it was made, but seeing the serial number and the numbers inside the case-back would also be helpful. Without doing a lot of research, it looks like a MkI to me, and it could be from the very late 1960s or very early 1970s. We can't really judge the condition from those photos, but I am seeing what is potentially a clean dial, thick but worn (sleeve-polished) lugs, stretched-out folded-link bracelet, and a faded but appealing bezel insert. Consistent overall and the condition is also consistent. The lume is darker in some of the hands, but that's not uncommon. If you really want to get into it, you can view it using a blacklight to see if the lume is all consistent.

Honestly, I don't know if you need to worry so much about what "version" it is. If you like it, and you can get it at a good price, you should probably buy it. It has the look of a well-worn but honest and attractive watch.

[springer]

My comments regarding your concerns about this GMT 1675 are addressed below and highlighted in green. I would further recommend that you spend some time and do a little research here on TRF in the Reference Library section or at gmtforum.com in the reference library there - at this link https://www.gmtforum.com/viewforum.php?f=3

My friend has a ‘Vintage Rolex GMT Master 1675’. The watch was his grandfather’s watch who died a short time ago. He wants to sell it and I’m interested on it but I’m not expeienced about Rolex watches so not sure if it is authentic or not.

My friend said that this watch was used by his grandparents in ancient times. Are there any old time replicas of this watches? If yes, is it looks like a replica?

The watch appears to be 100% genuine. It does not have the appearance of a "replica or fake" GMT 1675. The watch is appears that it might be a later Mark I dial version based on the bracelet if it is original - which would place the watch around 1970.

I did a little research on the internet and saw that these watches have very different versions according to the year of manufacture and maybe various country markets.

The pictured watch has a Mark I dial which is the first variation of the white lettered dials - the white lettered dials followed the gilt or "gold-colored" lettered GMTs found on the earlier models.

For example, the bezels of many watches belonging to the same year are very different from each other. Why could this be due?

I believe you are referring to the bezel inserts. The inserts look different due to age, UV light and other factors that aged them differently.

Based on the details that appear, I would like to find out if the watch is original, which version it is and which year it belongs to.

It is a Mark I GMT model 1675 manufactured between 1966-71 - but, if the bracelet is original, I would place it at circa 1970 since this bracelet wasn't used earlier in the production of the GMT 1675s.

Any doubts about the authenticity of this watch?

None at all. It appears 100% genuine.

I would be very happy if you could share with me all the details you know about this watch. According to your comments, I will buy this watch and it will be my first Rolex.

[jeffkoons]

Hello Springer, thank you very much for the useful information. I'll check the link that you wrote.

I know the bezel color depends by aging condition just confused about the red-blue color seperation point. For example the color seperation between 18 the red color is nearly sticky to 8, at the other side the seperation point is not centered on 6. When I take a glance at the other bezels, I can obviously see the color sepereaion point is always in different positions. Does it means anything?

[harry in montreal]

You should not pass up grabbing this beautiful watch. It’s just a classic and you will enjoy it thoroughly. This one is particularly nice with natural age and wear. kids call it patina.

[coelacanthus]

Don't let anyone polish, service, replace anything before consulting thoroughly here! Should you decide to get it, I'm sure knowledgeable folks here can point to the right vintage specialist in your area for movement service if required. Don't let self-proclaimed "Rolex Specialist" in your town touch or work on it or send to Rolex for service (they'll replace bunch of stuff and destroy value and originality. After you get fully informed, of course you (or your friend) can do whatever to it as it is your (his) watch, but definitely be informed first! My $0.02.

[JustinK]

It looks nice, buy it!

[springer]

Originally Posted by jeffkoons

Hello Springer, thank you very much for the useful information. I'll check the link that you wrote.

I know the bezel color depends by aging condition just confused about the red-blue color seperation point. For example the color seperation between 18 the red color is nearly sticky to 8, at the other side the seperation point is not centered on 6. When I take a glance at the other bezels, I can obviously see the color sepereaion point is always in different positions. Does it means anything?

No.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by springer

No.

What on earth would we do without Springer? Priceless knowledge.

[springer]

Regarding my response below which is highlighted in green, I would like to add some additional information and clarify my comment regarding the early production white-lettered dials. There were a couple of other white-lettered GMT 1675 dials that may have preceded the Mark I dial in production. They are identified as the Mark 0 and the Mark .5 (also referred to as the Mark 1.5). These two dials seem to have been manufactured in limited production - especially when compared to the Mark I dial which is also an early GMT 1675 dial and much more common.

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I did a little research on the internet and saw that these watches have very different versions according to the year of manufacture and maybe various country markets.

The pictured watch has a Mark I dial which is the first variation of the white lettered dials - the white lettered dials followed the gilt or "gold-colored" lettered GMTs found on the earlier models.