Rolex. A fine and rare 18K gold automatic dual time wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, transitional case without crown guards, Watch Rate Certificate duplicate and Guarantee for a serial number close to the present one, box and seal

With Rolex contemporary presentation box, seal, GMT-Master instructions leaflet in Spanish, as well as both a duplicate of the Watch Rate Certificate and a Guarantee for a watch with a serial number close to the present one. While the Watch Rate Certificate dated 1966 and the undated Guarantee are both punched with the serial number 1'480'887, the reference and serial number 1'480'908 of the present watch were added in hand-writing on the Guarantee. While the two serial numbers are obviously close, the documents are not the correct ones for the watch. One explanation for this discrepancy might be that a mix-up occurred in the shop where the watch was originally purchased.

The present watch is a transitional version of the celebrated GMT-Master reference 1675, combining the missing crown guards of the late 50s reference 6542 series and the newly introduced reference 1675 matte brown so-called "bicchierini" dial and the metal insert to the bezel. It furthermore stands out by its very good overall condition, most notably the sharp angles to the facets of the lugs.

Another example of a similar reference 1675 "hybrid" is illustrated in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, p. 192.

For a note on the GMT-Master and an example of a reference 6542 in gold see lot 307 in this auction.