Rolex GMT Master 1675 Provenance

 
The watch is a 1967 Rolex GMT Master model 1675 with a Pepsi bezel insert and an oyster bracelet. The serial number is 1637400 which confirms the date of 11/67 on the inside of the original case back. The dial is a Mark 1 matte with long E. The original hands have the small GMT hand.

OWNER HISTORY

The watch was originally owned by Alfred (Fred) Kaufmann a Swiss citizen who moved to Gwelo in the then South Rhodesia the 1950’s After getting married he then moved to Livingstone in 1958 and from there to Masabuku near Lusaka where he lived and worked until he retired to Graskop in Mpumalanga in 1992. In December 2012 his health had deteriorated so much that he moved to be with his daughter in Cape Town. He died the following month. The watch was obtained in September 2014 from his daughter who had inherited it.

SERVICE HISTORY

The watch was in not running and the crown would not push in. The case had some scratches and the bracelet was missing. The case back was damaged almost as if someone tried to use a chisel to open it. Some of the tritium lume was coming off on the minute and hour hands. Refer to images in Appendix A. 

Knowing that the Rolex Service Centre (RSC) would replace and retain the vintage parts, it was decided to take the watch to the well known Thys Willemse at On Time Watch Services in Montague Gardens instead. He managed to get all the correct original Rolex service parts and serviced the watch. The following was done:

·         Tube and crown replaced

·         Plexiglas replaced

·         Hands, dial and Insert replaced

·         Case lightly polished

·         Movement serviced

 

Unfortunately On Time could not source the correct oyster bracelet, so the decision was made to send the watch to Rolex via Van Deijl in Tygervalley who is an AD.  The RSC insisted on servicing the watch again, despite it not needing it.  This was however agreed to as there was an advantage in having the authorised service centre check the watch out and verifying that all was genuine and correct. Unfortunately, they replaced the case back and did not return it with the watch. They supplied an Oyster 78360 bracelet with 501B end links as well as a service pouch and booklet.

Appendix B has images of the serviced watch with the new bracelet.

In March 2018 the original bezel insert, hands and dial were refitted to get a vintage look. This is the current status of the watch as shown in appendix C.

BOXES

The watch originally came with a “Coffin” style box without a card or cushion. A second box was obtained which had a card, but the hinge has come loose.  These are shown in Appendix D.

ITEMS AVAILABLE

The following items are available:

·         1967 Rolex GMT Master 1675 with original vintage matte Mk1 long E dial, original hands with small pointer, original bezel insert and new crown, tube, plexiglass and case back.

·         New 78360 Oyster bracelet with 501B end links

·         Original crown and Plexiglass

·         New service dial, hands and insert

·        Two ‘coffin’ boxes

·         Rolex service pouch and manual

·         Valuation papers

·         Service receipts

A new owner can decide whether to have a crisp new look or to remain with the vintage look.

APPENDIX A
The pictures below show the watch as it was originally obtained. 

 


APPENDIX B

This is how the watch was returned by the Rolex Service Centre:

 


APPENDIX C

This is the state of the watch after the vintage parts were refitted: 

 




























This is the coffin box that came with the watch.

There is also a second box, which has a broken hinge
   

 

 




 



UPDATE - 2 March 2019
A close-up look at the Mk 1 matte long E dial.
 


This is how the watch looks in March 2019.