The Minute Details of Replica GMT-Master

We have analyzed the small details that account for vast differences in vintage Rolex watch values in this edition of The Minute Details series and we test the popular GMT-Master fake pilot’s watch. It’s not surprising that there are numerous differences to be found amongst GMT-Master replica watches from different eras since that is a model that was in great products for over twenty years. Now let’s see which amazing traits make for the biggest differences in price when looking for a vintage GMT-Master model. 
The GMT-Master watch was the second reference to be taken as Rolex’s family of pilot’s watches after the inaugural ref. 6542. The affordable fake Rolex introduced crown guards to the GMT-Master watch with its debut.
Early models came made with pointed crown guards, often nicknamed “El Cornino” by watch collectors because of their resemblance to horns. Finally, the fake Rolex replaced the pointed shape with non-pointed crown guards in the mid-1950s. Therefore, GMT-Master watches with pointed crown guards are typically much more expensive than ones with regular crown guards because of their limited production run.
The hand, together with the rotating bezel marked to 24-hours, gives access to the wearer to simultaneously reference the time in a second-time zone. It is this particular function that made the GMT-Master watch the go-to timepiece for commercial pilots. The red GMT-hand includes a luminescent arrow tip for visibility in low light conditions. 
Early examples of GMT-Master watches were equipped with 24-hour hands that featured small arrows at their tips. However, Rolex replaced the small arrow-tipped hand with a GMT-hand that had an obvious larger arrow at its tip. While the larger arrow offers more legibility, GMT-Master watches with small 24-hour hands typically command higher prices on the vintage Rolex market.
Real to the era, the first generation of GMT-Master replica watches received glossy black dials with “gilt” printing. This was the case up until 1964 when Rolex replica exchanged them for matt black dials that featured white text. We also need to find that there are two types of glossy/gilt dials – earlier ones with a chapter ring and later-era ones without a chaptering.
Just as we expected that GMT-Master watches with glossy gilt dials – particularly the ones with the chapter ring are generally much more expensive than matte black dials with white printing. There is one special variant of the matte dial that is quite rare with that in mind, and therefore more expensive than standard matte black dials: the so-called radial dials.
If completely original, glossy gilt dial versions of the GMT-Master replica watch should also have small-arrow style GMT-hands and pointed crown guards. While, don’t forget that it is quite common to see vintage Rolex watches that have spare dials, replacement hands, and other later-era replacement elements that were either put or exchanged during an after-sale service.