Vintage Rolex GMT-Master 1675 Steel Pepsi

This GMT is in overall nice, honest condition. The case has scratches, wear and some nicks. Between the lugs show some wear and scratches; the numbers are still legible. The red-back bezel is in good condition with wear and scratches; it has faded throughout. The dial is in attractive overall condition with some darker patina around the edge. The dial has developed patina and has a bit of texture throughout. The hour markers have developed patina and they all aged to a creamy off white color. Some of the plots show signs of degradation/ wear around the edges. The hands are in great condition with some patina. The GMT hand has a slight crack in the lume. The Swiss rivet bracelet is in good, honest condition with stretch between the links; this is not uncommon for this style bracelet.  

The GMT Master is Rolex’s signature pilot’s watch, complete with dual-time capabilities. It came to market in 1955, with ref. 1675 following shortly after in 1959. It’s one of the most sought-after vintage Rolex watches on the secondary market because it’s instantly recognizable with its 24-hour bezel and dedicated GMT hand. The Rolex 1675 was also notably the first GMT Master to use crown guards. Rolex initially used glossy dials in the 1675 until around 1966 and switched to matte dials.

This circa 1968 example is in nice, honest condition. Rolex made many iterations of the GMT over the years and collectors refer to this dial variation as a Mark I "Long E." When looking at the "Rolex" text on the dial the "E" has a longer central bar (same length as the top and bottom ones) and that is where this nickname comes from. This watch also has the correct date-wheel for the time period with the closed 6's and 9s as well as hooked 7s.

This watch is coming directly from the original owner, Tom Finley, who purchased it in 1969 in Hong Kong at Artland Watch Co. while he was on a week-long "shore leave" during Vietnam. He decided to get a Rolex because his issued field watch flooded and he knew he needed a reliable watch. He didn’t really know about watches, but heard from other service members that Rolex was the one to get and he did. He managed to keep the box and papers over all these years. When we asked him why he picked the GMT, he said "He liked the way it looked and the overall red, white and blue colorway." According to him, the watch was one of his favorite possessions so he wanted to keep everything it came with. He even wrote his name and rank on the bottom of the box.

Tom wore this watch throughout his 28 year career during every mission and exercise. One of the most historical important missions and the reason for this sale was his involvement in the Apollo 14 recovery on February 9, 1971. The  Apollo 14 was the eighth crewed mission by the United States and the third to land on the Moon. The prime crew members for Apollo 14 were, Alan B. Shepard, Jr, Stuart A. Roosa, and Edgar G. Mitchell. On February 9th, 1971 the astronauts came back to earth and landed in the ocean. They needed to be recovered and Tom was the co-pilot with to the helicopter that picked up the astronauts and brought them to the USS New Orleans aircraft carrier and days later Tom transported them to American Samoa. During this operation Tom was wearing the GMT of course.

This watch along with the box and papers is being sold with an assortment of items that Tom collected over the years from his career from his G1 flight jacket to photos of him personal and from the Navy where the watch is visible. See the list of all items in this lot and descriptions below. 

1. Rolex GMT-Master with Box and Papers 

Description above

2. G1 Flight Jacket 

This is a G1 Flight Jacket from circa 1967 and is a size 44. The jacket is made of goatskin and is in overall great condition with wear and scratches, the tag is also worn. This jacket was issued to Tom in 1967 and was with him throughout his entire career. He swapped out the patches on it from time to time and there is evidence of that on the jacket. Tom had the collar and cuffs replaced over the years. 

3. Aviators Flight Log Book 

This is a flight log book where the Navy kept records for all his missions, including the Feb 9th 1971 Apollo 14 recovery (that page is marked off). 

4. Flight Schedule from Feb 9, 1971

Copy of the flight schedule of the Apollo 14 Recovery showing Tom’s role that day. 

5. Underwater Demolition Team II Tri-fold 

This is the tri fold that shows the "UDT Frogmen of the Apollo 14 Recovery Team'' who were in the water and got the astronauts on Feb 9th. 1971. Each of the divers also signed this document near their name/ drawing of them. Tom received this a couple days after the recovery folded up with a piece of the spacecraft gold foil inside. The gold foil was the "skin" that covered the space capsule. The divers removed some of the "skin" and gave pieces away as souvenirs. Years later, this piece of "skin" was displayed in Tom's office, but one day a cleaning person thought it was garbage and threw it away. Tom kept this trifold anyway. 

6. FLOWN piece of skin from "Kitty hawk" Spacecraft  

This is a piece of external protective layer (gold foil) from the Apollo 14 "Kitty hawk" spacecraft that was given to Tom. Tom was doing a tour on the Midway for a group from NASA and he told them the story about his foil and being thrown out by accident (see #5 above) and a couple weeks after the tour this showed up in the mail for him. This was around the mid-2010s. 

The skin is approximately ¾ by ¾ inch on a 3 x 5 inch card.  

7. Helantisubron Six Plaque

This plaque is made of Philippine mahogany and is hand carved. This was given to Tom when he left the squadron in 1972. 

8. 5 Patches & 1 Sticker 

Tom would add/ remove patches from his G1 flight jacket over the years and here are five loose patches and one Apollo 14 sticker. 

1. Apollo 14 Mission Patch with matching sticker 
2. USS Kitty Hawk Patch
3. USS Independence Patch
4. HSRON SIX Patch (looks more unworn)
5. HSRON SIX Patch (shows signs of wear)   

9. Apollo 14 "The Moon Book" / Cruise Book 

This “Cruise book” was offered to the crew of the USS New Orleans for purchase, it is similar to a Yearbook students would get. These were pre-ordered and sent to the crew members who purchased them. This was Toms and it has his photo in the back, along with other crew members. The two photos of Tom in the book are marked off. 

10. 18 photos from Feb 9th Recovery, days after, and of recovery practice before Feb 9th, 1971 

a. 16 photos taken on the helicopter Feb 9 and in American Samoa around Feb 11, 1971. Tom took these photos with a Kodak Instamatic camera. 

b. One photo of the practice recovery and one photo of carrier during practice. Both photos are from before Feb 9, 1971 and are 8"x10"

All of the people involved with the Feb 9th recovery practiced all the different aspects of the mission many times before the actual day. This included the news's crews also. 

11. Eight photos from over the years 

a. Six Photos of Tom in the Navy and personal life with the watch visible 

b. Two photos of Tom, the watch is not visible in these 

12. Helicopter "Indian Gal" master watercolor painting

This was used to make the nose art decals of the same graphic that went on helicopters in the squadron. “Indian Gal” was the call sign for Tom’s squadron. Dimensions: 36" tall by 21.5" wide. 

13. Framed photo of Tom’s Helicopter picking up Astronauts on Feb 9, 1971   

This is a framed photo that was taken by NASA on Feb 9th of the helicopter Tom was co-piloting. This hung in Tom's office for years. Dimensions: 23.5" tall by 21.5" wide. 

14. Helicopter Flight Manual (NATOPS Flight Manual) 

Pilot standardization manual on how to operate the SH-3A/G, HH-3A helicopter