Case & Bracelet
Excellent pointed crown guard case that has previously been polished and shows a "Sleeve polished" finish. The red portion of the red and blue "Pepsi" bezel insert has faded to a fuchsia hue and shows some wear from use.
Excellent 7836 folded link oyster bracelet with 12 links and 258 end links. The clasp is stamped with a 4 over 69 date code.
Dial
Very good gitl dial that has aged to a brown tropical patina. The dial has some staining present over the R on GMT-Master. There is also some light scratching and patina present on the dial from age. The date disk has some spotting present. The markers have aged to a warm sandy hue and the hands have aged slightly lighter than the dial. All lume glows brightly when exposed to UV and falls off rapidly at the same rate.
Accessories
Box and papers. The photos are of the original owner who was a pilot in the US Air Force.
A letter from the original owners daughter:
My father, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force was the epitome of the classic American dream, born in a one-room log house and raised in the hills of Tennessee. The son of a poor farmer who struggled to make ends meet yet worked to move his family into the big city of Memphis when my father was a teenager. It was in the heart of Memphis, at 16 years of age, my father met my mother and began a loving, lifelong relationship. He attended college and then went on to become an officer and a pilot. My parents were married at 24 and not long after, moved to Japan where they made family friends and connections I carry on to this day.
He led an exciting and grand life as a military officer, living all over the world including Japan, Okinawa and the Philippines, a staging area for the Vietnam War. Clark Air Force base in Angeles City, Philippines is where I was raised and where my family lived during the fall of Saigon.
While in Hong Kong in 1961 my father, already known as a hotshot pilot, acquired this Rolex GMT Master and it remained in his possession until he passed away in 2018. A legend of the aviation age, this watch was made specifically for pilots like him. It was also the first wristwatch to display more than one timezone and he used it galavanting all over the world.
This is the timepiece my father wore throughout his entire career flying planes and working undercover during the Cold War. Now that he’s taken off for good, this smoking hot piece, in all original condition is a testament to a life well lived.
One of my cherished pieces accompanying this watch is the green wooden box. My favorite line, printed on the inside says, “Use box for cigarettes after removing this card and watch support.” Good times in the 60’s! It was however, a bit too small for my father's cigars so he kept one in his flight suit pocket to enjoy after a successful landing!
From trips to China, Pakistan, Iran and unknown locations in Central and South America, this is the watch my father used to navigate top secret missions.
The watch is running at COSC spec.