MK Personal Collection Super Rare Tropical Dial Rolex GMT Master Wristwatch Ref 6542 No Crown Guard Circa 1957

MK Personal Collection The present lot is part of a larger privately held collection and is intended for exhibition purposes only. This is a super rare Tropical Dial Rolex GMT Master Wristwatch Ref 6542 No Crown Guard, Circa 1957. This watch with Ref 6542 and Serial #1.262,690 has a three-body construction screwed-down case back and crown, red and black graduated revolving perspex bezel for the second timezone in 24 hours, crystal with "Cyclops" lens (crystal is cracked), highly charismatically aged brown lacquered dial with gold printing. Among collectors, this type of dial is now called "tropical". This designation is derived from the color of the lacquer which over the years has changed from black to a warm chocolate brown; Cal. 1030 with a rhodium-plated 25 jewel movement, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring Serial # N693,649. This is a very rare watch and collectors don't want to miss out on this rarity. It was worn by the original owner in the 1958 Antarctic Expo International Geophysical Year. The immense popularity of the Rolex GMT-Master series to this day is a testament to the timeless design of the reference that started it all, the reference 6542. Widely considered the master of the GMT-Masters, the reference started production in 1955 and was only manufactured for 4 years, the model being discontinued in 1959. The reference is based in the mid-century glamour of air travel, having been originally designed for Pan Am pilots during the golden age of flight. It was then lifted to further accolade adorning the wrist of Honor Blackman’s Pussy Galore in James Bond, Goldfinger released in 1964.