{"query": "6542", "brand": null, "total": 1, "limit": 10, "matches": [{"slug": "rolex-6542", "brand": "Rolex", "ref": "6542", "model": "GMT-Master", "case_material": "18k Yellow Gold", "provenance": "extracted_from_auction_comps", "url": "https://mostexpensivewatches.net/reference/rolex-6542", "description": "The Rolex GMT-Master reference 6542 in 18k yellow gold was produced between approximately 1955 and 1959. This reference represents the first generation of the GMT-Master line, originally developed for Pan Am pilots. The gold variant is significantly rarer than the steel counterpart, featuring a 38mm case without crown guards and the caliber 1036, 1065, or 1066 movement. Collectors prioritize this reference for its \"Bakelite\" bezel insert, which is prone to cracking and contains radioactive strontium-90. Gold models typically feature \"nipple\" dials with elevated hour markers and leaf-shaped hands. On the secondary market, prices for 18k gold 6542 models generally fall within the mid-to-high six-figure range, depending heavily on the preservation of the fragile bezel. A notable auction result occurred in 2016 when a well-preserved example with a cognac-colored Bakelite bezel sold for over $200,000.", "score": 199}]}