GMT in brown-gold
The model was launched in the early 1960s, about ten years after the launch of the very first Rolex GMT Master with the reference number 6542. After the GMT Master was available with an initial black or blue-red bezel (Rolex Pepsi), Rolex then launched a brown-gold bezel. At the same time the Tiger Eye, which was also available in solid gold, was the first GMT Master in bicolour. The name "Tiger Eye" comes from a gemstone known as the Tiger Eye in Germany - the colour similarity between the stone and the appearance of the watch is striking. This Rolex is also known as Rolex Rootbeer.
Although the Tiger Eye is sometimes referred to as the Rolex GMT Master Eye Of The Tiger, this nickname actually belongs to the Rolex Daytona with the reference number 116588TB, whose dial is made of diamonds and represents the distinctive pattern of the tiger skin.
A watch for connoisseurs
To this day, the Tiger Eye Rolex model remains an underdog: many collectors prefer a Pepsi GMT or more desirable models before discovering individualists like the Tiger Eye. In addition, bicolour watches from Rolex and other brands have long been unpopular. All this is gradually changing: bicolour is back in vogue - Oris is even bringing out bicolour models made from a stainless steel/bronze mix - and the Tiger Eye is moving even further into the focus of aficionados and connoisseurs. When a Rolex Tiger Eye appears at collectors' meetings, it's sure to be one of the highlights.