Pan-Am and the GMT-Master

[iwhelan]

Hello everyone,

We've all heard about how Rolex developed the GMT-Master for Pan-Am, but I can't seem to find more information beyond that. I have a few questions that you may or may not know the answers to.

Is there any knowledge on how many of these watches were issued to pilots?

How long did they do this for? Did this continue up until the end of the airline?

Is there any documentation that came with an issued watch? I would imagine that the warranty papers might be stamped differently than if the watch were purchased from a local dealer.

Has anyone in the community purchased an issued watch from a former Pan-Am pilot?

Thanks for any answers or thoughts that you can provide.

Ian

[joe100]

This dashing young man posted this http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=359131

[iwhelan]

Thanks Joe, I appreciate that.

It would be nice to at least hear of one watch that has the provenance of being actually issued to a Pan Am pilot. Maybe someone will speak up.

[greekbum]

I bought the nicest PCG gilt gmt I've ever owned from a former pan am pilot. He told me he bought the watch at Rolex in New York and got a discount cause he was a pan am pilot.

[CrownMe]

pics?? ^^^

[jyan212]

Originally Posted by greekbum

I bought the nicest PCG gilt gmt I've ever owned from a former pan am pilot. He told me he bought the watch at Rolex in New York and got a discount cause he was a pan am pilot.

Pics!!!

[jguerrad]

Originally Posted by greekbum

I bought the nicest PCG gilt gmt I've ever owned from a former pan am pilot. He told me he bought the watch at Rolex in New York and got a discount cause he was a pan am pilot.

Wanna see it please! pics.

[MitchSteel]

Mmmmmm Gilt......

[iwhelan]

Originally Posted by greekbum

I bought the nicest PCG gilt gmt I've ever owned from a former pan am pilot. He told me he bought the watch at Rolex in New York and got a discount cause he was a pan am pilot.

Interesting. So he bought it from Rolex at their offices in New York, not through a dealer? Did the watch come with papers? If so, what dealer is stamped on the papers?

Thanks,
Ian

[CrownMe]

his is not stamped pan am or anything. Its a Gilt dialed GMT that was owned by a pilot. ive seen it in the past and it is absolutely stunning.

[RollieVerde]

I want the Pan Am Cosmograph, even though I know the possibility of getting one are about zero. Worse than zero, because they may have made, what, six? But there's something about that watch that I find incredible. Beyond rare. But so cool.

[JohnBaker3]

Originally Posted by RollieVerde

I want the Pan Am Cosmograph, even though I know the possibility of getting one are about zero. Worse than zero, because they may have made, what, six? But there's something about that watch that I find incredible. Beyond rare. But so cool.

You mean this one? Yes, totally awesome and totally rare....

[mike]

Try here.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=31386

[RollieVerde]

Originally Posted by JohnBaker3

You mean this one? Yes, totally awesome and totally rare....

That's the chap. God I love it so. Bee-utiful.

[iwhelan]

Originally Posted by mike

Try here.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=31386

Thanks, but unfortunately that's the same info that I've always read, and none of my original questions are answered.

There doesn't seem to be any publicly available evidence that any GMTs were actually issued to pilots of Pan Am. Just stories and marketing.

[Fredrik]

Originally Posted by iwhelan

There doesn't seem to be any publicly available evidence that any GMTs were actually issued to pilots of Pan Am. Just stories and marketing.

I agree. Most likely the connection is that Rolex got to use Pan Am in their marketing and Pan Am employees got a discount. That's it.

[greekbum]

Originally Posted by jguerrad

Wanna see it please! pics.

When i bought it the pilot wore it on an expandable Spiedel band. The watch head is how I found it other than a movement service. It still has the original gasket under the crystal. He bought the watch January 1962 he told me directly from Rolex NY as it was known pilots got a discount. I have had this watch since the late 80s and thats all i remember him telling me. There was no papers or anything with the watch. I had met the retired pilot here at a local beach bar many times and i had a couple of GMTS's back then. And after a while I asked him if he wanted to sell it someday and he said yes as he liked his calculator watch more. So for around $600 I bought this one and although I've had dozens of others like it kept this as it was always nicer than any other i had ever had.

[dysondiver]

now that is stunning

[jguerrad]

Originally Posted by greekbum

When i bought it the pilot wore it on an expandable Spiedel band. The watch head is how I found it other than a movement service. It still has the original gasket under the crystal. He bought the watch January 1962 he told me directly from Rolex NY as it was known pilots got a discount. I have had this watch since the late 80s and thats all i remember him telling me. There was no papers or anything with the watch. I had met the retired pilot here at a local beach bar many times and i had a couple of GMTS's back then. And after a while I asked him if he wanted to sell it someday and he said yes as he liked his calculator watch more. So for around $600 I bought this one and although I've had dozens of others like it kept this as it was always nicer than any other i had ever had.

Stunning, thanks for the picture, I have been looking to add a PCG gilt GMT for my collection and have yet to find one that even closely resembles this!....I will certainly have to pay many many multiples of $600 for something close to this Great watch thanks for sharing

[NukeMan]

Sweet!

[jyan212]

Great story! Thanks for sharing, Nikos!

[iwhelan]

Cool, the watch is beautiful. Enjoy it.

Originally Posted by greekbum

When i bought it the pilot wore it on an expandable Spiedel band. The watch head is how I found it other than a movement service. It still has the original gasket under the crystal. He bought the watch January 1962 he told me directly from Rolex NY as it was known pilots got a discount. I have had this watch since the late 80s and thats all i remember him telling me. There was no papers or anything with the watch. I had met the retired pilot here at a local beach bar many times and i had a couple of GMTS's back then. And after a while I asked him if he wanted to sell it someday and he said yes as he liked his calculator watch more. So for around $600 I bought this one and although I've had dozens of others like it kept this as it was always nicer than any other i had ever had.