This Vintage Rolex “Pepsi” Comes With a Wild Fighter Jet Survival Story

The Story

Bob’s Watches acquired a 1977 Rolex GMT-Master II "Pepsi" that survived a jet ejection.

It comes with the original box, papers, custom engravings and an incredible crash archive.

Currently in Paul Altieri’s collection, but it is available for purchase for those who are interested.

Nearly half a century after its purchase, a vintage Rolex GMT‑Master II from 1977 has resurfaced with a remarkable survival story. Originally owned by U.S. Air Force pilot Capt. David Bartell, the watch was on his wrist when he ejected from a failing F‑105 fighter jet near Tinker Air Force Base in 1978. The incident, documented in local newspapers at the time, left the aircraft destroyed but the pilot – and his Rolex – intact.

The watch remains in extraordinary condition, accompanied by its original box, papers and receipt, as well as personal engravings: the caseback etched with Bartell’s name and the clasp adorned with pilot wings. Beyond the timepiece itself, the archive includes a newspaper clipping of the crash, a photograph of Bartell in his jet during aerial refueling, and a typed letter reflecting on the ejection and the watch’s role in that moment. Currently part of Bob’s Watches CEO and Founder, Paul Altieri’s collection, the GMT‑Master II is not formally listed for auction, though Altieri has noted that “everything is for sale.”

Original report

Hypebeast

Read full story

Cookie Preferences

We believe privacy is a right, not a trade-off. Choose exactly what you're comfortable with. You can change these any time. Full privacy policy.

Essential Always on

Required for the site to function

Session management, security tokens, login state, and your cookie preference itself. These cannot be turned off. No personal data is shared with third parties.

Analytics Optional

Helps us understand what content you enjoy

We use anonymised analytics (e.g. Google Analytics) to see which articles perform well, how long people spend reading, and where traffic comes from. This helps us write better content. Your IP address is anonymised and no data is sold.

Personalisation Optional

Remembers your preferences across visits

Remembers your reading preferences and recently read articles so we can surface relevant content. All data stays in your browser — nothing is sent to our servers.

Advertising Optional

Used to show relevant ads that support the site

Allows advertising partners to show you ads based on your interests. If you decline, you'll still see ads but they won't be tailored to you. We work with Google AdSense and similar networks. You can opt out globally at youronlinechoices.eu.