Rolex GMT-Master 6542

The case measures 38mm across, with a 20mm lug width. Case material: stainless steel. Case size alone is a poor guide to how a watch wears; lug-to-lug length and how the bracelet drops off the case matter more, which is why we suggest trying one on before you commit.

Cal. 1036.

It is rated to 50 meters, about 164 feet. That covers brief swimming. It is not a dive watch. One caution that applies to every watch on this page: a water resistance figure describes a new watch with fresh gaskets. On a piece that is years past its last service, treat the rating as unknown until it has been pressure tested.

Rolex produced this reference from 1954 to 1959. Production years matter when you are valuing one, because dial, bezel and bracelet details often changed inside a single reference run.

6542 is the first GMT-Master. The case has no crown guards. Earliest examples wear a bakelite Pepsi bezel insert (later replaced in service by aluminum). Gilt dial. Serial between the lugs at 6, reference at 12. Cal. 1036.. Reading the reference is the fastest way to confirm that a watch is what the seller says it is, before you get anywhere near the movement.

The first GMT-Master; early bakelite bezel, no crown guards. Collector nicknames are not official Rolex names, but they are what people actually search for and what they are called across a showroom.

Yes. We buy this reference outright, and we lend against it if you would rather keep it. We are a family-owned San Diego buyer established in 2006, our appraisers are GIA-trained, and the appraisal is complimentary with no obligation to sell. You can bring it to our Gaslamp showroom at 907 Sixth Ave or start online. If you are looking to buy this reference instead, tell us and we will let you know when one comes in.