| Brand: | Rolex |
| Model: | GMT-MASTER |
| Reference: | 16753 |
| Gender: | Male/Uni-sex |
| Year: | 1981 |
| Material: | 18k yellow gold and stainless steel |
| Dial Color: | brown |
| Dimensions: | 40 mm |
| Watch Movement: | automatic |
| Bracelet/Strap: | 18YG/SS |
| Box/Paper: | Handmade Leather Travel Pouch |
| Condition: | Excellent |
Rolex GMT Master 16753 rootbeer nipple dial aka Clint Eastwood
This is a rare opportunity to purchase Rolex GMT Master 16753 two-tone rootbeer. This is a really cool and rare GMT reference as worn by no one else than Clint Eastwood!
Description
We have seen a lot of watches that were part of a product placement deal. Bond films: Rolex at first, then Seiko then Omega. Patterns of a repeating brand are common, especially on a certain actor if they are a brand ambassador. Another pattern to look for is the personal watch; when an actor wears a watch of his own in his films, and one of my favorites is Clint Eastwood’s Rolex “Root Beer” GMT Master. Clint Eastwood used to wear his personal watch in several movies beginning in 1982 with Firefox until 1993 with In the line of fire.
History of the Rolex GMT
As the flight industry began to really take off in the 1940s and 1950s, pilots began flying longer distances. Originally designed in collaboration with Pan Am Airways, the Rolex GMT Master was initially created for Pan AM, and issued by them to their crews on long-haul flights. The key feature of the watch was that the wearer could tell different times simultaneously. The original GMT Master watch has a 24 hour display fourth hand complication directly linked to and displaying the same time zone as the standard 12 hour hand. The GMT hand enables the wearer to set the watch to GMT or any other time zone for the main time view, then set the rotatable 24 hour scale bezel to a second time zone. The name GMT is derived from Greenwich Mean Time. Greenwich Mean Time is also known as Coordinated Universal Time, and is the time zone that is required for all aviation planning, weather forecasts, and schedules.
The first Rolex GMT reference 6542 was introduced in 1954. It featured a bakelite bezel (which was replaced after two years by an aluminum bezel because it cracked very easily) and had no crown guards. The James Bond fan also might recognize this watch as it was on the wrist of Pussy Galore in the Goldfinger movie. The Rolex GMT-Master ref.6542 was in production till 1959.
Perhaps one of the most popular vintage Rolex GMT-Master watches is this ref.1675. This watch was introduced in 1959 and was in production till 1980, indeed a very long time. Till the late 1960s, the extra hour hand featured a small triangle and was succeeded by a red hand with a larger triangle through-out the 1970s. Early models also featured pointed crown guards and a chapter ring. It was also the first Rolex sports watch that became available on both the Oyster (reference 78360) and Jubilee (reference 62510) bracelet.
Followed by the Rolex GMT Master 16750 in ca 1980, a model with a new movement and glossy dials. Rolex started using the caliber 3075 movement, which featured a quick-set date. The movement also increased ‘speed’ to 28,800vph. This model was in production till 1988.
Design
The Rolex GMT-Master is the most recognizable traveler’s watch in the world. One of the successful ingredients for this, is that Rolex always has been consistent regarding the design of the GMT-Master.
The Rolex GMT-Master was originally designed for professional use to aid airline pilots. However, its combination of peerless functionality and instantly recognizable aesthetics has attracted a wider audience of world travellers. Designed to show the time in two different time zones simultaneously during intercontinental flights, the GMT‑Master has come to be recognized for its robustness and versatile appearance. The GMT-Master II evokes intercontinental travel across time zones. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) marks mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London — the location of the original meridian used for calculating longitude and determining different time zones around the world.
This reference 16753 features an especially rare design with the addition of a brown and yellow "Root Beer" bezel and matching brown dial topped with yellow gold nipple hour markers and sweeping hands. The iconic date aperture is also visible on the dial, adding to its functionality. This reference also comes equipped with a 5-piece link two-tone Jubilee bracelet, a feature that isn't often seen on sports watches.
This is a really fine looking vintage Rolex GMT Master 16753. It is used but not abused. It is a really nice watch that you can use as a daily wearer.
Case
Excellent case that has been polished and shows light wear from use.
Caseback
Bezel
Comes with an excellent Root Beer bezel which has lightly faded from wear.
Dial and hands
Excellent metallic “NO DATE” Root Beer dial with matching creamy nipple yellow markers and hands. This really nice nipple dial has some patina and tiny scratches on it. It looks very honest. The dial reflects different kind of colors depending on the light conditions. It tends to go from black to brown and to red. Date disk with open 6’s and 9’s.
Movement
Caliber 3075 based on caliber 3035 beating at 28.800 beats, per hour, 27 jewels 50 hours power reserve
Bracelet: Stainless steel and 18k yellow gold Jubilee w/ Fliplock clasp. Comes with 18 links and has moderate stretch for its age.
Overall, the exceptional finishing of the Rolex GMT Rootbeer is noteworthy, both for its design and execution.
As with all of our pre-owned watches this watch comes with a full 12 month WRIST ICONS warranty that will be invoked from the day of purchase. Please check our website to have a look at the high resolution pictures on a macro level. You will see every detail at its best.
Viewings can be arranged at our office by appointment.