| Basel world exhibition of 1954 is a memorable | | | | mark of Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified |
| moment to Rolex and the watch world. In this year, | | | | used by present editions was also carved on the dial |
| Rolex presented Explorer especially for explorers, | | | | of Ref.1675. But different from officially certified |
| Submariner especially for divers and Turn-0-Graph for | | | | chronometer of Ref.6542, It mainly used Caliber 1565, |
| common consumers, transferred the concept of | | | | which had Micro Stella free sprung balance and |
| utility watch into specific image, acting a leading role | | | | became more accurate. Ref.1675 is not only popular |
| in the watch world. It was certainly the working | | | | with Pan-Am but also other pilots from Civil Aircrafts |
| effort of all the Rolex staff, but the public relationship | | | | and it is also welcome by common consumers. It was |
| manager of Rolex Rene-Paul Jeanneret, who was a | | | | sold pretty well nearly 20 years, which is one of the |
| sports lover, also made great contributions to putting | | | | best sell watches in Rolex. |
| the concept into reality. It was just because of | | | | GMT-Master is not only loved by civil aviations, but |
| Rolex’s leading role in the watch design and | | | | also gains high evaluation from military and many |
| production, so it attracted Pan-Am, the biggest airline | | | | combat pilots wore it in succession. In 1940’s and |
| company in the world, who hoped to own a practical | | | | 1950’s, NASA started a series of tests and |
| watch specially designed for their pilots to fly among | | | | challenges to flying speed and height, eventually the |
| different time zone. After the negotiation between | | | | trial aircraft North American X15 made a record of |
| Pan-Am and Rene-Paul Jeanneret, who were both | | | | 4,534 mph (7,269 kph), which has not been broken |
| leading enterprises in their respective market, then a | | | | so far. What the pilot of X15 wore was GMT Master, |
| famous GMT-Master came out. | | | | and he so admired the accuracy of GMT Master |
| Pan-Am assigned a famous pilot leader Frederick | | | | even it was at a height of 45,000 feet and endured |
| Libby, who was an air war hero in the Second World | | | | furious operation and Centrifugal Force of more than |
| War to offer technology consultation, and Jeanneret | | | | 3.5G. We could still find the reason why Pete Knight |
| wanted to add a rotary 24-hour watch bezel, and | | | | chose to wear GMT Master: there had been always |
| had a conception of adding another hand on the dial | | | | heroes in Edward Air Force Base where Pete Knight |
| to show a second time zone. In technology, Rolex | | | | belonged to, what Chuck Yeager wore when drove |
| took 6202 to match the Turn-O-Graph of movement | | | | Bell X-1 to conquer the sound barrier was Rolex |
| 1030 as the basis of assembling, plus a 24-hour gear | | | | Oyster which had companied him for many years in |
| shape display and new date dial, and then a new | | | | the Second World War. |
| 1065 came out. Apart from the double colors rotary | | | | In 1976, GMT had an improvement again, and |
| second time zone outside bezel with a 24-hour mark, | | | | launched an improved edition owning the function of |
| the first generation of GMT-master of 6542 is quite | | | | second stopping; in 1980, GMT Master was changed |
| similar with Turn-O-Graph and Submariner from | | | | into Ref. 16750, increasing its quick date adjustment |
| semblance, also without crown protecting shoulders. | | | | function. Later, GMT-Master was again changed into |
| However, what needs to pay attention is” the | | | | Ref. 16700, and the watch mirror evolved into |
| first generation GMT-Master of 6542 is the first | | | | sapphire crystal glass. In 1983, Rolex presented |
| Rolex with date Cyclops. In 1956, the second time | | | | GMT-Master II, which was Ref.16710, matching the |
| zone plastic outside bezel of GMT-Master was | | | | Calibre 3085 together with GMT hands. Since the |
| replaced by steel which had been used in the future | | | | 24-hour watch bezel and GMT hands can rotate in |
| days. GMT-Master became the officially certified | | | | two directions, making GMT Mater own a function of |
| chronograph for Pan-Am, and the company | | | | three time zones display. From the persistent in |
| distributed one GMT-Master to each official, pilot and | | | | typical design of GMT M aster and continuous |
| navigator. | | | | improvement which keeps pace with the time, it is |
| From 1960, GMT-Master was changed into Ref.1675, | | | | not hard to conclude that it is such watch making |
| and started to match crown protecting shoulders, | | | | culture that makes Rolex a rising brand and a |
| and GMT hands on the dial also became quite big, and | | | | permanent love by consumers. |
| were very similar with the editions nowadays. The | | | | |