Rolex GMT Master 18k

Why We Love It

The first thing you notice about a watch like this is the weight.

There is something instantly satisfying about the heft of a solid gold watch. For some inexplicable reason, Rolex gold is so much more satisfying than all other gold. Do not know why, theres not science behind that statement - just trust us.  

After the weight, look at that dial - a beautiful rich black gloss 'nipple' dial with gilt printing. This is a lot of watch packed into 39mm oyster case. While most GMT-Master's are sports watches, this walks the line between dress and sport. It's like the cool uncle of the GMT family, the one that always has that slightly crazy story to tell about that night at the Sands with Frank & Dean. 

There are GMTs and then there are GMTs. This is one of the latter.

The Story

The Quartz Crisis shook the Swiss watch industry to the core. Old, revered names in the industry were faced with an almost-impossible choice: either embrace the changes and risk flooding a market already saturated with quartz movements, or offer something else entirely. Rolex chose the one less traveled by, and watches like this one—the GMT Master Reference 16758—were what resulted from that choice.

Now, Rolex had offered sports watches with touches of gold as early as the 1960s, with the Submariner Reference 1680. The GMT Master, its premier pilot’s watch, also boasted splashes of the metal in the two-tone Reference 1675/3. But before the 1970s, the manufacture had not fully embraced the possibility of casing the GMT entirely in gold. 

Aside from the material, the case is the same Oyster case that consumers and collectors had come to love, in both proportion and appearance. Slightly slimmer than the case of the Submariner, the GMT Master slips easily under a cuff; while steel variants might not outwardly scream “dress watch,” the 16758 certainly does.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.