See the evolution of the Rolex GMT-Master in Paragon exhibition

If you have ever wondered why the Rolex GMT-Master has come to embody adventure, elegance and style, head to the Paragon atrium for a special exhibition by the Swiss watchmaker and watch retailer Cortina.

- Wong Kim Hoh Features Editor

Open to the public, the showcase titled Time Zone to Time Zone and running till Nov 2 - traces the evolution of the iconic dual-time watch that rose alongside the golden age of commercial aviation as the trusted companion of pilots, explorers and globetrotters alike.

Its story began in the jet age of the 1950s, when air travel was shrinking the world. Born from a collaboration between Rolex and Pan American World Airways, the GMT-Master was conceived to help pilots navigate across continents and time zones.

But what began as a cockpit instrument has become one of the most recognisable symbols of precision and wanderlust on the planet.

The debut of the GMT-Master (Reference 6542) in 1955 was revolutionary. The watch featured a fourth hand that completed one rotation every 24 hours, paired with a two-tone bezel that distinguished day from night. The colours blue and red earned it the enduring nickname Pepsi.

For the first time, wearers could read two time zones at a glance, a breakthrough for pilots charting transatlantic routes.

Originally fitted with a fragile Bakelite bezel that glowed with radium numerals, the Ref. 6542 quickly gave way to sturdier aluminum versions after safety concerns arose.