Watches Every man Should Own: The Collectible

Rolex 1675 No Crown Guards Root Beer

There are certain wardrobe staples that every stylish man needs to own: a classic blue blazer, the perfect dress shoe, a well-tailored suit – these are all givens. But as we’ve stated many a time before, no ensemble is truly complete without the finishing touches that elevate an outfit to refinement. More often than not, the final piece of  the sartorial puzzle is a well chosen wrist watch.

A timepiece says a lot about its wearer, and we’re here to make sure you’re making the right statement. Join us in our series outlining the best choices for a fully rounded watch wardrobe with the Watches Every Man Should Own.

We’ve professed our love for the GMT before, but today’s watch wardrobe staple isn’t your average GMT-Master. While vintage 1675 models are easy to find thanks to their decades-long production period (159 – 1980), the Rolex 1675 no crown guards Root Beer 18kt yellow gold model is a rare treat.

The GMT-Master, introduced by Rolex in 1955, was developed in collaboration with Pan Am to meet the needs of their international pilots. When the first commercial transcontinental flight took off, its pilots wore the GMT (short for Greenwhich Mean Time) to tell time in multiple time zones. GMT was the basis for all flight planning, schedules and navigation before the advent of modern flight technology, so an accurate GMT time source was imperative for a safe flight.

GMT’s feature dual hands for precise transitions between time zones and a 24 hour bezel to allow the wearer to tell time in a 3rd timezone. It’s the essential pilot’s watch.

This particular model, Rolex 1675 No Crown Guards Root Beer is an extremely rare GMT Master. It’s distinctive brown and 18kt yellow gold dial and bezel are what earned that “Root Beer” moniker – although serious watch collectors may on occasion refer to this model in a more… anatomy inspired fashion. This watch is recognizable to watch aficionados, and is extremely stylish to the untrained eye. So whether you’re wearing it for bragging rights, or just because you happen to like the different look lent by the lack of crown guards, this is the collectors watch to add to your wardrobe.

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