Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Ralph Lauren spotted wearing Rolex

In an archival photograph that has circulated quietly among collector communities, Ralph Lauren is seen wearing a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master reference 1675 distinguished by its two-tone red-and-blue 'Pepsi' bezel and, crucially, a double-signed dial — a detail that elevates an already desirable reference into genuine rarity territory.

The GMT-Master reference 1675 was introduced in 1959 as the direct evolution of the original 6542, retaining the 24-hour rotatable bezel function developed in close collaboration with Pan American World Airways. Rolex designed the watch to allow pilots and crew to read two time zones simultaneously via a fourth hand pointing to a graduated bezel. The 1675 ran for over two decades, accommodating a series of incremental updates — from pointed crown guards to matte dials, from gilt printing to the later glossy executions — making sub-variant identification a discipline unto itself. The movement inside is the calibre 1565 in early examples, later transitioning to the 1575, both automatic movements with a 19,800 vph beat rate and a practical hack seconds function.

The double-signed dial visible on Lauren's example places it among the most sought-after 1675 configurations. Certain authorised dealers — particularly in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and select European markets — contracted Rolex to print their name on the dial alongside the Rolex signature. These retailer-signed dials were produced in very limited numbers and were never catalogued systematically, meaning confirmed examples surface infrequently and command serious premiums at auction.

Ralph Lauren's relationship with horology is well documented. He has assembled one of the most respected private collections in the world, spanning early automotive-themed pocket watches to Patek Philippe complications and vintage Rolex sports references. His taste runs toward the historically significant and the aesthetically resolved — qualities the GMT-Master 1675 possesses in full measure. That he chose a double-signed variant suggests acquisition driven by knowledge rather than novelty.

On the current market, clean stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master reference 1675 examples in standard configuration trade in the $15,000–$30,000 range depending on dial condition and provenance. A confirmed double-signed dial in comparable condition will realistically command $40,000–$70,000 or more at specialist auction, with exceptional provenance capable of pushing that figure considerably higher.