New dog, old tricks

In an age where the art of combining retro aesthetics with contemporary technology is ever popular and ever improving, the legendary watches of the golden age have long been the inspiration behind throwback timepieces. Having tackled the Submariner, custom watch wizards at Tempus Machina have now reinterpreted another member of Rolex royalty — the reference 6542 GMT-Master. Coveted by collectors for their place in tool watch history, adorning the wrists of the stylish jet-set pilots of the 1950s, their Bakelite bezels and delicate dials have aged gracefully, creating a signature look hard to repeat. Dubbed the Tempus Machina 711Z, a current reference 116710 GMT-Master II is the basis of this horological homage. From here, a 18k gold-plated dial that echoes a vintage gilt unit has been added, finished with a custom “small arrow” GMT hand like those found in early models. For the bezel, scratch-resistant sapphire replicates the Bakelite and is re-profiled to a coin-edge style, with hand-applied luminescent numerals and indicators, while a slimmer Rolex crown replaces the chunkier modern item on the thinner case. With a retail price of 35,000 US dollars and a delivery time of 6–8 months, this retro-recreation for the niche watch fan is guaranteed to intrigue wherever it’s worn…

Photos: Tempus Machina