amanico
[JLC Moderator]
340729
Rolex GMT MASTER 6542. THE census.
The GMT MASTER 6542 is a relatively rare watch. How many were produced, it is hard to say, but if you keep in mind that, according to Rolex is a document dated from December 1959, only 605 of them were imported in the US, we can reasonably guess that for the rest of the world, you can multiply per 4 or 5 the production and sales of this reference, during its life ( 1954 / 1959 )
The Rolex document in question:
So, we had circa 2500 / 3000 ( once again, it is a guess estimate ) Rolex 6542 made, which is too much to say that it is rare, but which is nothing compared to the hundreds thousand 1675 produced.
It is said that the 6542 was unveiled at the Basel Fair in 1954, but the earliest I saw dates from 1955, with the serial number 112 xxx.
If you have the evidence of a 6542 from 1954, please post it.
The " youngest " 6542 was born in the last quartal of 1959.
Let's see what we have, and please, feed the census. I achieved to find 100 different 6542.
1/ 1955.
The rarest, by far. I only saw a very few number of them, and only on the Net.
-> 112 196 ( Phillips ):
-> 112 881 ( Antiquorum ) :
-> 112 xxx IV 1955 Red ( Brevetwatch ) :
-> 112 xxx IV 1955 ( Jacek ) :
-> 112 927 IV 55, Double Red ( Christies ) :
-> 113 009 IV 1955 Red ( John Goldbeger ) :
2/ 1956:
-> 212 xxx, IV 1956 ( Andy shear ) :
-> 212 483 IV 1956 ( Antiquorum ) :
-> 212 734 IV 1956:
-> 212744, IV 1956 ( Antiquorum ) :
-> 212 668, IV 1956 ( Jacek ) :
-> SN Unknown, but IV 1956 ( Stefano Mazzariol ) :
-> 212 669, IV 1956:
-> 212 868 IV 1956:
-> 22x xxx from IV 1956, Credit Bonann
3/ 1957:
-> Unknown Serial Number and Quartal, 1957. ( Philipp Stahl ) :
-> 263 139, unkown quartal, I would say I 1957. ( Antiquorum ) :
-> 321 848, 1957 ( probably III quartal ) Credit Sothebys:
> 355 xxx IV 1957: Credit picture: Luca Musumeci
-> 35x,xxx IV 1957:
-> Nr 262 xxx, 1957, probably first Quartal:
-> 356 xxx IV 1957, Premium Watch:
-> 322 052 IV 1957:
-> 356 xxx IV 1957 ( Bob Maroon ) :
-> 1957, quartal and Serial Number unknown:
-> 367 xxx, 1957, probably IV Quartal. ( Roberto ) :
-> 381 384, probably from the last quartal of 1957 ( Antiquorum )
4/ 1958:
-> Unknown Serial Number and Quartal ( Watchmywatch ) :
-> Unknown Serial Number and Quartal ( Antiquorum ) :
-> -> Unknown Serial Number and Quartal ( Credit: Fourtané )
> 367 408, probably last quartal ( Roberto or John Goldberger, I don't remember )
-> 381xxx II 1958 ( Virginia Vintage Watches )
-> 39x xxx III 1958 ( Ten Past Ten ) :
-> 381 477 II 1958:
-> 381 913 II 1958 ( Antiquorum ) :
-> 397 522 III 1958 ( Antiquorum )
-> 397 583 III 1958:
-> 397 528 III 1958:
-> 390 xxx III 1958:
-> 398 xxx III 1958 ( Credit picture: Premium Watch ) :
-> Serial Number and Quartal unknown, 1958, by Geoff:
-> Serial number unknown, II 1958, by Marc
-> Serial Number and quartal unknown, 1958, by Premium Watch:
-> 426 609, probably last quartal 1958, by Christies:
-> 381 xxx II 1958, by Jacek:
-> Another 381 xxx II 1958 by Jacek:
-> 381 396 II 1958:
-> 381 xxx from II 1958 T Swiss < 25 dial. ( Credit picture: Vintage Watches Miami )
-> 398 216 III 1958:
-> 398 750 III 1958: Antiquorum:
-> 398 257, I 1958 by Cornette de St Cyr:
-> 423 532 III 1958:
-> 42x xxx IV 1958 by Tempus Orologi:
-> 426 xxx IV 1958 by Motts:
-> 426 xxx from IV 1958. ( Vintage Miami Watches )
-> Serial Number unknown IV 1958, by Nick Green:
-> 427 327 III 1958:
-> 427 340 ( Quartal Unknown ) :
-> 427 483:
-> Serial number and quartal unknown, 1958, Matthew Bain:
-> II 1958 , Nr 426 182:
-> Serial Number and quartal unknown, 1958, William Bound, by Matthew Bain:
-> Serial number and quartal unknown, 1958, by Robert
-> 426 xxx IV 1958, by Jacek:
-< 398 xxx from III 1958. Credit: Only Vintage.
5/ 1959:
-> Serial Number unknown, III 1959 by Philipps:
-> 428 269, Quartal unknown, 1959, by Phillips:
-> 443 379 III 1959 by Tempus Orologi:
-> 461 406, quartal unknown, 1959, by Ten Past Ten:
-> 461 831 from 1959 Box and papers ( Credit picture, Christies ) :
-> 355 863, Quatal unknown, 1959 ( ??? ), by Antiquorum:
-> 356 136, quartal unknown, 1959 ( ??? ), by Antiquorum:
-> 461 458, quartal unknown, 1959:
-> 462 xxx III 1959, by Jacek:
-> 48x xxx from III 1959 by Tempus Orologi:
-> 482 123 from I 1959, by Sothebys:
-> 482 269 ( Quartal Unkown ) by Phillips:
-> 486 407, Quartal unknown,1959, by Roberto or John Goldberger:
-> 486 446, Quartal unknown,1959, by Roberto ( I think ) :
-> 461 550 II 1959, by John Goldberger:
-> 461 758, II 1959:
-> 482 xxx, III 1959, By Jacek:
-> III 1959, serial number unknown:
-> 482 699, quartal unknown, 1959, by John Goldberger:
-> 482 987 III 1959, by Phillips:
-> 482 971 from 1959 ( Quartal unkonwn ) :
-> 482 084 III 1959, By Phillips:
-> 482 084 III 1959, by Antiquorum. ( Most probably an early service dial ).
-> 482 732 from III 1959 ( Credit: Antiquorum ). The dial is questionable, here...
6/ Curiosities:
-> Captain Don Walsh's 6542 Nr 397 575, from III 1958. The evidence that some 6542 had a military life:
-> An extraordinary caramel service dial, found by Ten Past Ten, Number 397 xxx III 1958:
-> Yellow gold 6542 " Serpico y Laino "... I wonder how many were made! ( John Goldberger ) :
-> A steel Serpico y Laino, photographed by Davide Parmigiani
Another Serpico Y Laino, 212 xxx from IV 1956. ( Credit picture: Jacek )
-> A Tiffany from 1958 ( Picture to probably be credited to Antiquorum ) :
-> Fidel was wearing a 6542, a " revolutionary " watch:
-> A fully restored 6542 by Rolex in 1981, with a case back dating from 1981! By Fourtane:
-> A 482 xxx ( which would logically date the watch from III or IV 1959, but which has a IV 1960 case back ( Credit picture: Onlyvintage )
-> Very rare 6542 " Underline " dial, no precision on the year, quartal and serial number, but if there were a few 6542 with exclamation dot, why not an underline?
->Another underline. Serial unknown, but from 1957:
That is " all " I have, about 6542. Please, once again add yours or pictures you have of this extraordinary Rolex Reference and Milestone.
Please note that all the 6542 featured here are not 100% correct. some had their hands changed, others had metallic or after market inserts, changed crowns and so on... But it is to give you an idea...
Nicolas
It is said that the 6542 was unveiled at the Basel Fair in 1954, but the earliest I saw dates from 1955, with the serial number 112 xxx.
If you have the evidence of a 6542 from 1954, please post it.
The " youngest " 6542 was born in the last quartal of 1959.
Let's see what we have, and please, feed the census. I achieved to find 100 different 6542.
1/ 1955.
The rarest, by far. I only saw a very few number of them, and only on the Net.
-> 112 196 ( Phillips ):
-> 112 881 ( Antiquorum ) :
-> 112 xxx IV 1955 Red ( Brevetwatch ) :
-> 112 xxx IV 1955 ( Jacek ) :
-> 112 927 IV 55, Double Red ( Christies ) :
-> 113 009 IV 1955 Red ( John Goldbeger ) :
2/ 1956:
-> 212 xxx, IV 1956 ( Andy shear ) :
-> 212 483 IV 1956 ( Antiquorum ) :
-> 212 734 IV 1956:
-> 212744, IV 1956 ( Antiquorum ) :
-> 212 668, IV 1956 ( Jacek ) :
-> SN Unknown, but IV 1956 ( Stefano Mazzariol ) :
-> 212 669, IV 1956:
-> 212 868 IV 1956:
-> 22x xxx from IV 1956, Credit Bonann
3/ 1957:
-> Unknown Serial Number and Quartal, 1957. ( Philipp Stahl ) :
-> 263 139, unkown quartal, I would say I 1957. ( Antiquorum ) :
-> 321 848, 1957 ( probably III quartal ) Credit Sothebys:
> 355 xxx IV 1957: Credit picture: Luca Musumeci
-> 35x,xxx IV 1957:
-> Nr 262 xxx, 1957, probably first Quartal:
-> 356 xxx IV 1957, Premium Watch:
-> 322 052 IV 1957:
-> 356 xxx IV 1957 ( Bob Maroon ) :
-> 1957, quartal and Serial Number unknown:
-> 367 xxx, 1957, probably IV Quartal. ( Roberto ) :
-> 381 384, probably from the last quartal of 1957 ( Antiquorum )
4/ 1958:
-> Unknown Serial Number and Quartal ( Watchmywatch ) :
-> Unknown Serial Number and Quartal ( Antiquorum ) :
-> -> Unknown Serial Number and Quartal ( Credit: Fourtané )
> 367 408, probably last quartal ( Roberto or John Goldberger, I don't remember )
-> 381xxx II 1958 ( Virginia Vintage Watches )
-> 39x xxx III 1958 ( Ten Past Ten ) :
-> 381 477 II 1958:
-> 381 913 II 1958 ( Antiquorum ) :
-> 397 522 III 1958 ( Antiquorum )
-> 397 583 III 1958:
-> 397 528 III 1958:
-> 390 xxx III 1958:
-> 398 xxx III 1958 ( Credit picture: Premium Watch ) :
-> Serial Number and Quartal unknown, 1958, by Geoff:
-> Serial number unknown, II 1958, by Marc
-> Serial Number and quartal unknown, 1958, by Premium Watch:
-> 426 609, probably last quartal 1958, by Christies:
-> 381 xxx II 1958, by Jacek:
-> Another 381 xxx II 1958 by Jacek:
-> 381 396 II 1958:
-> 381 xxx from II 1958 T Swiss < 25 dial. ( Credit picture: Vintage Watches Miami )-> 398 216 III 1958:
-> 398 750 III 1958: Antiquorum:
-> 398 257, I 1958 by Cornette de St Cyr:
-> 423 532 III 1958:
-> 42x xxx IV 1958 by Tempus Orologi:
-> 426 xxx IV 1958 by Motts:
-> 426 xxx from IV 1958. ( Vintage Miami Watches )
-> Serial Number unknown IV 1958, by Nick Green:
-> 427 327 III 1958:
-> 427 340 ( Quartal Unknown ) :
-> 427 483:
-> Serial number and quartal unknown, 1958, Matthew Bain:
-> II 1958 , Nr 426 182:
-> Serial Number and quartal unknown, 1958, William Bound, by Matthew Bain:
-> Serial number and quartal unknown, 1958, by Robert
-> 426 xxx IV 1958, by Jacek:
-< 398 xxx from III 1958. Credit: Only Vintage.
5/ 1959:
-> Serial Number unknown, III 1959 by Philipps:
-> 428 269, Quartal unknown, 1959, by Phillips:
-> 443 379 III 1959 by Tempus Orologi:
-> 461 406, quartal unknown, 1959, by Ten Past Ten:
-> 461 831 from 1959 Box and papers ( Credit picture, Christies ) :-> 355 863, Quatal unknown, 1959 ( ??? ), by Antiquorum:
-> 356 136, quartal unknown, 1959 ( ??? ), by Antiquorum:
-> 461 458, quartal unknown, 1959:
-> 462 xxx III 1959, by Jacek:
-> 48x xxx from III 1959 by Tempus Orologi:
-> 482 123 from I 1959, by Sothebys:
-> 482 269 ( Quartal Unkown ) by Phillips:
-> 486 407, Quartal unknown,1959, by Roberto or John Goldberger:
-> 486 446, Quartal unknown,1959, by Roberto ( I think ) :
-> 461 550 II 1959, by John Goldberger:
-> 461 758, II 1959:
-> 482 xxx, III 1959, By Jacek:
-> III 1959, serial number unknown:
-> 482 699, quartal unknown, 1959, by John Goldberger:
-> 482 987 III 1959, by Phillips:
-> 482 971 from 1959 ( Quartal unkonwn ) :
-> 482 084 III 1959, By Phillips:
-> 482 084 III 1959, by Antiquorum. ( Most probably an early service dial ).
-> 482 732 from III 1959 ( Credit: Antiquorum ). The dial is questionable, here...
6/ Curiosities:
-> Captain Don Walsh's 6542 Nr 397 575, from III 1958. The evidence that some 6542 had a military life:
-> An extraordinary caramel service dial, found by Ten Past Ten, Number 397 xxx III 1958:
-> Yellow gold 6542 " Serpico y Laino "... I wonder how many were made! ( John Goldberger ) :
-> A steel Serpico y Laino, photographed by Davide Parmigiani
Another Serpico Y Laino, 212 xxx from IV 1956. ( Credit picture: Jacek )
-> A Tiffany from 1958 ( Picture to probably be credited to Antiquorum ) :
-> Fidel was wearing a 6542, a " revolutionary " watch:
-> A fully restored 6542 by Rolex in 1981, with a case back dating from 1981! By Fourtane:
-> A 482 xxx ( which would logically date the watch from III or IV 1959, but which has a IV 1960 case back ( Credit picture: Onlyvintage )
-> Very rare 6542 " Underline " dial, no precision on the year, quartal and serial number, but if there were a few 6542 with exclamation dot, why not an underline?
->Another underline. Serial unknown, but from 1957:
That is " all " I have, about 6542. Please, once again add yours or pictures you have of this extraordinary Rolex Reference and Milestone.
Please note that all the 6542 featured here are not 100% correct. some had their hands changed, others had metallic or after market inserts, changed crowns and so on... But it is to give you an idea...
Best,
Nicolas
More posts:
Rolex GMT MASTER 6542. THE census.
The GMT MASTER 6542 is a relatively rare watch. How many were produced, it is hard to say, but if you keep in mind that, according to Rolex is a document dated from December 1959, only 605 of them were imported in the US, we can reasonably guess that for ...
Wow!! That is a very impressive article, Nico
pure pleasure to read it. Bravo, my friend!
What can I say dear Nicolas...Bravo!
Tremendous work and passion for the GMTM! And the icing is you have in possession one of the not many thats still around. A friend took a pix of this at Cacciari Salvati, a jeweller in Italy, 2018. ...
Wow! What a post to finish off the year. That’s my Christmas reading sorted.
Nicolas, may I wish you and your family a lovely Christmas and a very happy and safe new year. Best regards. Kev.
Great post indeed!
Is the original seconds hand always painted white? Thank you, carlo
Wow!
Amazing retrospective Nico! Here is mine, poor man’s version, 1959, service dial with beautiful warm patina and aftermarket bezel, very enjoyable to wear Matt ...
PS: Isn't this that one?
212 669 from IV 56? In that case, I included it, in my post. ...
same but different
It is the same service dial and similar looking bezel indeed!...but different watch, mine is III 59 Matt
Wow! You left me speechless my dear friend Nicolas!! What an study on the 6542 you offer here!! This is a true document which I need to spare in my HD for reference.
You know I own an "imperfect" example which I bought in my beginnings as a watch collector some ten years ago. A big mistake for a beginner to hunt for such an important piece! But anyway I still keep it. Bezel is aftermarket of course, and dial sports si...
Inscription is barely visible but it says...
... Swiss only. I know some original replacements were silver with T Swiss <25 but this dial says Swiss only. ...
Rolex 6542 mega compilation.
I forgot to make a reply when you posted this mega thread. I was to excited reading it. A real piece of history years in the making to collect all these photos was a work of art. This thread will live a very long life. Merci Nicolas.
