Restoration of a $100,000 Rolex GMT From 1958!

Another crazy vintage watch restoration from Marshall, this time it's a Rolex GMT Master 6542 from 1958!

These routinely go for $100,000 or more, so restoring one is a big deal! On top of that, this barn find watch has the original Bakelite bezel, an extra rarity that comes with extra challenges! Enjoy this one, it's quite a ride!

Follow on Instagram for Project Updates in between video releases: @wristwatch_revival
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CAMERAS AND AUDIO:

COMPUTER STUFF:

[paulacorreal]

Wow, I’m so impressed with your talented and precise work. You, sir, are not only nimble of fingers but also have a gift of conveying helpful information about each watch. Even though I’ll never be attempting to repair or even open a watch, I’m fascinated. I’m almost 80 years old and I found your channel and just discovered that my 50 year old son is also a big fan of yours. I can’t believe he actually texted me the other day and said, “Hey, Mom, have you seen this one?” Unbelievable! Thanks from mother and son in PA.

[johnjon]

I cannot believe I just spend 52 min watching you restore a watch and I enjoy every minute. unbelievable talent.

[HasanTosuncuk]

My grandfather was a watchmaker in a small town in central Turkey in the sixties and repaired watches. I used to help him in my school holidays. One day a rich man brought his Omega watch to get repaired. My grandfather saw an automatic watch for the first time and as he realized how it works, the old man started to dance in his little (2 x 3 meters ) repair shop! I don’t forget that day.

[stevieg]

What amazes me as a retired machinist/toolmaker is the complexity and delicacy of these machined parts, all done before computers and CNC was ever even thought about, the detailing and polishing is amazing and the absolute precision

[spuppy]

I usually watch these at night before bed, but as soon as I saw what this was, I had to click play immediately! Watching now, just had to say that!

[mikeallen]

This is so nostalgic, I’m actually in tears.

My father used to do this stuff as a hobby. He had a full set of tools for fixing wrist watches, and cigarette lighters; manly stuff of the 60s and 70s. During our time these were everyday things. Certainly nothing vintage about them.

In fact, as young as 6, I had the “privilege” of screwing in (or out) some of these marvelous tiny screws under his supervision. I also definitely had the continued “honor” of “looking under the furniture” for some spring-loaded parts or the actual springs that flew off every now and then as he worked on these watches. I was the little sized apprentice.

While I personally haven’t seen him working on a Rolex, he told me he did a few, before I was born. I did look over his shoulder as he worked on Seiko (Japanese) and Citizen (Swiss) and other big brandname watches of the time. My mom’s wristwatch was actually a Citizen.

It was a time when watches were valued by the number of Jewels (real or synthetic red ruby stones) used in their timekeeping mechanism.

This video was so nostalgic and calming it brought a lot of peace remembering my late father. I even watched it at normal speed for the full 52 minutes.

To the memory of my father and the best days of my life I had around him.

[GSpyderTurbo]

So I’m an automotive/motorcycle engine builder. This tickled all the spots in my brain and I’m blown away at the complexity of this craft. I think I’ll be taking this hobby up as a way to better understand the engineering that makes the world work. Thank you for the amazing work!

[johnnyboy]

It's the pride and excitement in your voice when talking about your work that sold me. Subbed

[mauriziozanni]

How you can remember where everything goes back together is beyond me. Top notch craftmanship, a pleasure to see!

[Rotary_Phone]

It never ceases to amaze me how you can remember where every part goes after you take it apart. It's easy to take things apart, but another story to put them back together in working order.

[macdahdi]

Man I have to say that you are like a modern Bob Ross in a way. I'm so digging these videos. Thank you so much for your work!

[bannedoneice]

I don’t know why I just find these restoration videos so soothing. I guess because it’s satisfying when you watch things being restored and after they’re in horrible condition.

[fratercontenduntocculta]

I'm a Retired Military Armorer (I fixed the guns), and this really satisfied my mechanical inclinations. That was gorgeous.

[savage_x]

I love that these videos never feel like they are 45+ mins long. Well done!

[arzeey]

What a time to be alive to just have these types of videos readily available.

[flashladderacrobat]

This dude's commentary is just fantastic. I watched the whole video. Excellent!

[HWYHOG]

I’m so impressed that anyone can completely take apart something like this, clean/repair and put it back together again.

[nikreichel]

Apart from the beautiful camera work and the dancing cuts between the closeups I also really enjoy your lively narration. It always feels like one is actually looking over your shoulder and being spoiled with all the naming and background infos. Thank you so much for these YouTube gems! <3

[kevinkinney]

I had no idea how intricate the workings of a watch are. Its insane that this was ever invented.
Great work. Good job!

[keithwhisman]

I know this is an old video but I just want to thank you. You and all the other watchmaker YouTubers who call out the parts as they work on them have taught me all the parts of the watch and its just amazing to me that I have it all in my head at my age. My works keeps me away from home for months on end but I can’t wait till I have a different career so I can start working on watches starting out with my own collection.