Royal King Harald V of Norway spotted wearing a Rolex

In 1968, King Harald V of Norway was photographed wearing a Rolex GMT-Master 1675, a watch he would carry for the next six decades until his death at 89. The photograph captures the monarch in profile, his wrist adorned with what would become one of the most recognisable tool watches of the modern era. The GMT-Master 1675 represents the bridge between Rolex's earliest dual-time designs and the modern era, a reference that defined professional horology for pilots and travellers worldwide.

The Rolex GMT-Master 1675 operates on the calibre 1570, a self-winding movement with a 24-hour central hand and independently adjustable hour hand—essential for simultaneous tracking of two time zones. The case measures 40 mm in steel, water-resistant to 100 metres, with the iconic red and blue GMT bezel (later termed "Pepsi" by collectors). Early examples, including Harald's, featured a gilt dial with applied indices and Mercedes-style hands. The bracelet configuration in the photograph appears to be the original Oyster or Jubilee, typical of early-1960s production.

The 1675 holds special significance among GMT-Master enthusiasts: it represents the last generation before Rolex introduced the 6542's successor with the modern cal. 3075, and it bridges pre-crown-guard and crown-guard eras. Variants with gilt dials and tropical (faded) bezels command premiums among collectors. Harald's example, worn continuously for over 60 years, represents the kind of personal tool-watch journey that modern "investment" collectors attempt to replicate but rarely achieve—authentic single-owner provenance.

Royal wearers have consistently chosen Rolex sports watches over dress pieces, and Harald's loyalty to the 1675 underscores the GMT-Master's practical design and psychological durability. Unlike contemporary chronographs or annual calendars, the GMT-Master solved a genuine problem for his role. This 1968 sighting, now retrospective context for a beloved monarch, reminds collectors that the greatest watch stories are not made by marketing but by decades of quiet, daily wear.

The Rolex GMT-Master 1675 retailed at approximately $150–200 USD in 1968. Today, well-preserved examples trade between $18,000 and $45,000 on the grey market, depending on dial condition, bezel colour, and provenance. Single-owner examples with documented royal or notable-figure provenance command significant premiums.