Rolex

At the request of multiple airlines, Rolex developed a wristwatch that would allow pilots to have two different time zones on their watch with needing to pull the crown. The first iteration of this complication on a Rolex watch was featured on the reference 6542. It was equipped with a Bakelite bezel with radium luminous indexes and bezel.

The present watch's movement is stamped 'ROW'. This means this watch was retailed in the US market. A little known fact about the reference 6542 is that these watches were subject to a recall in the US. The Atomic Energy Commission stated that the levels of radiation from this watch were too high. In this recall, Rolex confirmed that a total of 605 GMT-Master, including both steel and gold, were imported in the US. This is a very rare statement from Rolex who never confirms production numbers.

This historically important timepiece features a 'ROW' movement and luminous bezel and indexes which do not present any radioactivity. It can be assumed that the present watch is one of the 605 GMT-Master reference 6542 which have been subject to a recall. This wristwatch would be a great addition to any collection and is one of the few watches in Rolex's history to have been subject to a recall.