Rolex – A Rare 1956 GMT Master Automatic Calendar Dual Time Wristwatch with Bakelite Bezel

Reference: 6542

Serial: 212776

Year: April 1956

Bezel: Bakelite

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 38mm

Dial: Service Replacement Dial (marked 'Swiss - T<25'), Black, Luminous Mercedes Hands, Centre Seconds Hand, Red Arrow Dual Time Hand

Numerals: Luminous Dot, Luminous Baton Quarters, Minute Track

Crown: Rolex Crown with Swiss Cross

Movement: Rolex Calibre 1035 25-Jewel Automatic Movement, adjusted to Five Positions and Temperature, numbered ‘DN759776’

Complication: Date Aperture with Cyclops Magnifier at three o’clock, Red Arrow Dual Time Hand

Strap: 1958 Jubilee Strap, marked ‘58’

Inner Circumference: Approximately 18.0cm

Buckle: Rolex Stainless Steel Fold-Over Clasp

Box: No

Papers: No

Gross Weight: 92.7 grams

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Held in a private collection for 40 years.

This timepiece is the Rolex GMT-Master reference 6542, introduced in 1955 and discontinued in 1959 after a brief four-year production run. Notably, the 6542 reference was the first model to feature the iconic blue and red “Pepsi” bezel and remains the only GMT-Master reference fitted with a Bakelite bezel.

For your protection, every watch with an estimate over £1,500 is checked against the Watch Register. This is an independent company who hold the world’s largest, most established, international database of lost, stolen, and fake watches, containing data compiled over 35 years – providing Dawsons’ buyers with complete peace of mind.

Condition Report

The watch is currently running, no long-term tests have been performed and accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

A full service is advised on all watches and pocket watches once purchased.

Surface scratches, scuffs and slight dents throughout.

Scratches and scuffs to crystal. Slight internal fractures to crystal, seen most prominently to edge of crystal between two and four o’clock.

Very slight debris to dial, visible under 10x loupe.

Loss of luminosity to dot and baton numerals as well as hands.

Slight discolouration to numerals and hands.

Slight discolouration and debris to date aperture.

Slight discolouration to bezel.

Significant flexibility to bracelet.

Slight debris throughout. Most notably between strap and lugs.

Crown in good working order. Hands and date wheel change as expected. Crown does not quite screw down fully due to debris in the screw threads.

No Box. No Papers.

Note that the online condition report may not mention mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome.

Watches with water-resistant cases may have been opened to examine movements, but no warranties are given regarding their water resistance.

Note that this piece is available to view, and we recommend that you do as that we cannot guarantee the authenticity or originality of individual components, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets, and wrist bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration may have changed the original components. Also, we cannot guarantee the authenticity or originality of any engraving or re-engraving on watch cases, case backs, bracelets, straps, or internal movements.

For your protection, every watch with an estimate over £1,500 is checked against the Watch Register. This is an independent company who hold the world’s largest, most established, international database of lost, stolen, and fake watches, containing data compiled over 35 years – providing Dawsons’ buyers with complete peace of mind.