Really awesome thread with Rolex 6542 pics

[TheDude]

I stumbled upon this thread. I think it's especially relevant because it is close to what Bill described for the Project GMT last April.

-No gilt
-Aluminum insert

http://rolex.watchprosite.com/?show=...7046&ti=659001


I would prefer these end links on the Project GMT vs the ones with the cut-out.

[Thieuster]

Wow, simply wow! Thanks for sharing.

Menno

[sunster]

That's stunning. Thanks for the link

[Brisman]

Absolutely outstanding. Thanks for putting the link up.

I wonder what sort of money is in one of those?

[cpotters]

Brilliant. Thanks for sharing!

[White Tuna]

Fantastic. Thanks for posting.

[kjenckes]

Here's a 1973 model.

[Arthur]

Beautiful and very well kept 6542. Personally, I much prefer the gilt dial/ hands, but from what it sounds, the owner was looking for the very best example of a 6542 that he could wear as an everyday watch. Certainly the Bakelite bezel inserts are more interesting, and rarer, but as he and lots of other folks have said, they are very fragile, and you can almost crack one by looking at it wrong!!. Replacing one is near impossible, and the prices are truly sky high. For one that you can wear regularly, this is a great choice.

[TheDude]

Beautiful and very well kept 6542. Personally, I much prefer the gilt dial/ hands, but from what it sounds, the owner was looking for the very best example of a 6542 that he could wear as an everyday watch. Certainly the Bakelite bezel inserts are more interesting, and rarer, but as he and lots of other folks have said, they are very fragile, and you can almost crack one by looking at it wrong!!. Replacing one is near impossible, and the prices are truly sky high. For one that you can wear regularly, this is a great choice.

Yeah, I think this is the plan though, or at least what Bill told me last April. Matte dial, aluminum bezel. I would be very happy with this and the watch in the link shows how great it will look, as well as outlining the pedigree and validity of such a combination.

I really hope that Bill follows the trend he started with the Kingston of making the bezel font and size true to the Rolex. The insert on the watch in this thread should be copied exactly imo.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[cpotters]

If - according to the ad - this watch cost $240 in around 1958, then this was a WHOOPING expensive watch back then, helping to explain why there are so few of them. This watch cost more than twice the price of a submariner, and really was a tool for (as the ad says) "air-pilots, ships' captains, navigators, travelers, international business men and members of the armed forces". I believe you could have just about bought a Patek - certainly a Vacheron - for that money. I love looking at the old ads, they give us so much more perspective.