The History Of Watches
Phillips has selected Brando's GMT Master for a December auction, which they call Game Changers (scheduled for December 10). Safeguarded by family members, this Rolex is not only a collector's item for a vintage 1675, which is not so rare in every way, but also for the portrayal of the vicious outsider Colonel Kurtz on Brando's wrist.
Given the sad possibility that many of you who read this have never seen Apocalypse Now and only know it for quotes like I love the smell of napalm in the morning, perhaps a short context is needed before getting closer with Brandos deal Rolex without bezel.
I will try to limit this to a single paragraph. Apocalypse Now, inspired by Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness, will be released in US theaters in mid-August 1979, playing against the background of the Vietnam War, when Captain Willard, portrayed by Martin Sheen, is sent upriver to Cambodia on a mission, Colonel Walter To kill E. Kurtz.
The Watch Line
Kurtz has gone mad in the jungle, and his extra-curricular activities and operations have caused maladministration with the country's best military. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and authored by John Milius, who also wore a replica Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT Master watch, Apocalypse Now is much more than a war movie. It offers a completely straightforward lesson in insanity, ego and the concepts of control and power.
It's a wonderful, cerebral and intimidating film that rewards progressive reunion and is equipped with two superb watches, Willards Seiko 6105 and Kurt'z 1675 GMT Masters. This GMT Master dates from 1972 and is intended to be completely original except for the absence of a bezel or the original strap.
The Watch Dial
He was portrayed in the movie by Brando and captured in a famous collection of black and white photos by Mary Ellen Mark. According to Phillips, dial, hands, case, movement and case back come with a serial number of 3.24 M and a case back from 1972 from the watch. With a little more flair, the caseback is signed with an engraving by Brando, inscribed M. Brando.
The watch, which Petra Brando Fischer has kept safely since the mid-90s, has been part of the larger Brando family for some time now. Interestingly, it is now known as one of two replica Rolex GMT-Masters 1675 by Brando. The other clock is from the year 1961 and has a spare dial (matt against the original shiny).
The watch case
This former GMT Master, who was later worn on a bracelet and does not have to look like a Kurtz-worn jungle watch, kept his bezel and is cared for by Caroline Barrett, dam of Brando's adopted daughter Petra Brando Fischer. She does not intend to offer it for sale.
So how do we know that this is the clock of Apocalypse Now and the photos of Mary Ellen Mark? Mostly the Crown Guard and the direct connection to Brando's surviving family. The 1972 Rolex GMT-Master replica watch from 1972 has rounded crown protectors, while the earlier example would generally have a pointed crown protector on a bracelet.
The Kurtz GMT in metal is in good condition, with a sharp case, defined eyelet holes and a nice matte dial. With minimal wear on the back of the lugs, the watch appears to have been worn on a bracelet, and although the watch's strap is not original today, it captures the mood well enough.
The bezel remains AWOL, it was removed during filming to give some credibility to Kurt'z Existence on the Edge of the Razor. All in all, it is a wild thing to see how it is offered for sale, a wild thing that you can personally watch and even wilder when you have it on my wrist.
The Hollywood
As Stephen highlighted in his original report, this GMT champion has created Ben's list of Twelve Greatest Missing Watches 2014. Although every old Rolex GMT-Master champion replica watches is cool, this is something special due to its Hollywood heritage, and its continuance in the Brando family for all these years. This is certainly a valuable and special watch, especially for fans of the movie.
Do not expect, however, that this GMT Master without bezel will appear alongside watches like Rolex Daytona Paul Newman Replica. Brando's GMT Master is a very different niche in its appeal. Newman's own Daytona is the Daytona. This GMT master is probably the clock of Apocalypse Now. Kurtz GMT is certainly more valuable in the layers of film stars than, say, Elvis-born Hamilton Ventura, but certainly less genre-defining than the record-breaking PND.
If you have stomach for war movies, but have not yet seen Apocalypse Now, then get started. And if you have a forecast for the final knockdown next December, please include them in the comments next to your favorite quote.
I'll never be enough collectors to hope to own a watch like this, but I have a camera and I wanted a mission, and for my sins they gave me one... At watchi.co you can read more news and get cheap Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master replica watches. In the summer of 2019 you will receive a 10% discount on two or more watches.
