The Rolex GMT-Master, a symbol of sophistication and versatility, has a storied history that dates back to 1954. It all started when Rolex received a request from Pan American Airways (Pan Am) to develop a technical pilot's watch capable of displaying two time zones simultaneously. With the advent of commercial transcontinental flights, Pan Am needed a watch for their long-haul international flight crews that would enable them to keep track of time in multiple locations.

GMT, which stands for Greenwich Mean Time, is the universal time standard that regulates the world's clocks and serves as the basis for aviation planning and schedules. The Rolex GMT-Master is equipped with a fourth 24-hour hand that displays the same time zone as the standard 12-hour hand but on a 24-hour scale. This GMT hand allows wearers to set the watch to GMT or any other time zone and then adjust the offset using the rotating 24-hour bezel to display a second-time zone. This remarkable feature makes the Rolex GMT-Master a must-have for anyone who frequently travels across multiple time zones, allowing them to keep track of two time zones with ease and precision.

Adorned with the insignia of the US Army Airborne Division, an elite infantry unit designed around strategic parachute assaults. While we don't have the provenance that goes along with this specific piece, we do believe it to be previously owned by an Airborne Officer and we love watches with unique engravings and untold stories such as this one.

CASE & BRACELET

The excellent case has been previously polished and retains full land symmetrical lugs that exhibit no notable signs of previous use. The original red back "fat font" Pepsi bezel insert has achieved a very attractive fade and patina while exhibiting minor signs of previous use. The case back features the US Army Airborne insignia which has been previously gently polished and remains fully visible and intact. The watch comes supplied on a later service unit Rolex 78360 Oyster bracelet with 580 end pieces which retains 12 links that show almost no stretch and will fit up to a 7 1/2-inch wrist.

DIAL & HANDS

The well-preserved and original MK I "Long E" dial is in excellent condition, showing no damage and only minor clipping to the outer minute track which is common for GMT-Dials from this era. The dial appears to be taking on a chocolate color hue in some light, however, we wouldn't claim the dial to be "tropical". The tritium lume plots have aged to a charming  eggshell patina, under UV light inspection some very minor degradation is present, namely in the 6 o'clock marker. The original tritium hands are a shade more creamy in color than the dial and exhibit no degradation when inspected under UV light. The metallic date wheel is original with "open" 6's and 9's.

ACCESSORIES 

None. Watch is functioning and keeping time, previous service history is unknown.