'Mysterious' GMT Master 1675 from 1974 - expertise requested

[Raarrr]

Good day fellow forum members,


I’ve joined recently because I’m trying to get as much facts as possible on my uncles Rolex GMT Master Root Beer. The information on the forum has been really helpful so far! He’s planning on selling the watch, but there’s also an opportunity for me to purchase it from him.

So I would like to call upon your experience and knowledge and I’m interested in your opinion on buying it or not and what would be a fair price!


The story goes that he bought the Rolex in Geneva in 1979. I’ve got the original receipt and certificate with matching serial numbers. It was bought for 2130,- Swiss Francs.




Some facts:

• Serial nr: 40116XX - Manufactured in 1974
• Type: 1675 - It doesn’t say anymore, but I assume that if this watch was made in the eighties it would have been a 16753 (Root Beer / Tiger Eyes / Tigerauge / Clint Eastwood). The inside of the back plate says 1675.
• Bracelet: Jubilee 18k Yellow Gold/Steel - Experts say it’s completely worn.
• End links: 450 J
• Clasp: 62523h 14 8 C - I’ve read that this dates it back to 1978; I don’t know if it’s common that the bracelet is added to the case at a later date.
• Dial: T SWISS T - I’ve read that this was used between 1960 till mid/late 1998. But when opening the watch there’s a remark that a ‘service dial’ was fitted in 1996. I think it is an original bronze nipple dial, but experts weren’t sure about the color.
• Lunette: SS with black inlay.
• The original box is still there.

Some service history (got the receipts):

• In 1980 the acrylic glass was changed in Paris.
• The original 18k gold bezel and root beer inlay got knocked off in 1984 while diving. Afterwards he had a genuine Rolex stainless steel bezel fitted with black inlay. Not original, but cheaper at the time. The acrylic glass had to be changed for a second time. This was done in Paris too.
• In 1985 it had an official Rolex servicing in Marseille.
• In 1996 it had is last service in Abu Dhabi with presumably a dial change.

So all and all it’s quite a puzzle. He used the watch continuously and had some work done. The bracelet is worn, the bezel and inlay are not original, the acrylic glass has been changed 2 times and the dial seems to be an service dial.

What to do?

Since it’s been part of the family I consider it a form of heirloom and I’m leaning to having it restored. This would mean fitting a new (vintage) bezel with root beer inlay, having the bracelet refurbished or changed and giving it a servicing. But what would you do?

Thank you very much on any advice or information.


Regards, Ruben (The Netherlands)