Rolex GMT-Master exhibition: How a pilot’s watch has become a symbol of time and travel
An exhibition by Rolex and Cortina Watch take visitors through seven decades of horological innovation
[SINGAPORE] There are few watches that can claim cult status among both pilots and pop stars. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master is one of them.
This month, it takes centre stage in Singapore with Time Zone To Time Zone, a sleek and immersive exhibition by Rolex and Cortina Watch at the Paragon from Oct 24 to Nov 2.
The exhibition takes visitors through the rich history of the watch, which was developed in collaboration with the Pan American World Airways in the 1950s to help flight crews track time in multiple time zones.
Its fourth hand, calibrated to Greenwich Mean Time, and the bi-coloured bezel that divided day from night, made the Rolex GMT-Master an especially rugged, practical and stylish choice at a time when commercial aviation was booming. It rapidly became a fixture not just in cockpits but on the wrists of cosmopolitan travellers too.
At the exhibition, visitors get to see sleek panels, archival imagery, a short documentary film, as well as the various versions of the GMT-Master II. Visitors get to understand the seven-decade evolution of its design, from the 1950s versions to today’s ceramic-clad pieces housing the brand’s in-house Calibre 3285 movement, featuring a longer power reserve and the Chronergy escapement.
Ultimately, though, Time Zone To Time Zone celebrates not just precision engineering but aspiration. It is about movement across continents and eras, with the watch serving as a marker in the evolution of modern travel.
Admission is free from Oct 24 to Nov 2, though the space will be closed for a private event on Oct 24 from 3 pm to 9 pm. There is also a 45-minute guided tour which you can register for at https://www.cortinawatch.com/en/rolex-gmt-master-exhibition/
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