The GMT-Master 16700.....A Forgotten Reference

[Frosty]

This is a very informative article with great pictures of a beautiful watch. I really enjoy mine.

[Grissom]

I would like to thank Larry (Tools) for a GREAT, informative article, which helped me tremendously, with regards to my recent acquisition of an "A" Serial Number (1999) 16700. Pic of my 1999 16700 (Luminova) marked Swiss Made dial along with a screen pic of his 1997 16700 (one of the last Tritium Dials) marked Swiss - T < 25 dial, from this very thread, as well as a lume shot of mine, now some 10+ years old!

Threads like this are one of the many reasons to love being a member of TRF.

Again, thanks, Larry!!

Nathan

[Medtech]

Larry,
Many thanks for this excellent article and the awesome pics.

Here is my one and only Rolex, an E serial 16700 (1990). Original sub bracelet and pepsi bezel (pics shown w/ cheap aftermarket black insert).

[model7el]

great post

[Pencinta Masa]

Thanks Larry for the very useful information.

This is my first post here, and this is my first Rolex - an E series 16700.

[Newportkrieger]

Originally Posted by Pencinta Masa

Thanks Larry for the very useful information.

This is my first post here, and this is my first Rolex - an E series 16700.

I too have an E series 16700. Its a great watch that combines the best of old and new for a great daily wear watch. I am activly looking for an U or A series 16700 with the luminova dial to add to my GMT collection. I personally think that wiht the realatively short production run/numbers this may start to gain some interest in the vintage community despite its sapphire crystal. To me its the "transitional GMT".

fast beat movement
quickset date
scratch resistant sapphire crystal
traditional GMT 24 hr hand function

My daily wear GMT, currently giving me +1 sec/day accuracy:

[sorsara]

when they say Crystal= sapphire

what part of the watch are they talking about exactly?

[Newportkrieger]

Originally Posted by sorsara

when they say Crystal= sapphire

what part of the watch are they talking about exactly?

The crystal is the clear covering over the dial of the watch. A Rolex with a crystal made of plastic/acrylic is considerred "vintage" where as a man made sapphire crystal is considered modern.

[dddrees]

Another excellent review Larry. Thanks again for helping me to build my knowledge on these watches.

[SWIMPRUF]

Nice review Larry.

[604Rolex]

great information! I'm currently looking to purchase a 1999 GMT black bezel with original oyster bracelet. On the box it says 16700 movement.

How much is reasonable to pay for this watch? Condition is fair, normal wear.

[AndersB]

Tools! A great thread and a great watch. One thing though: I believe the weight that you have included in the facts list (127 grams) is for a watch with Solid End Links, and most (or all?) ref 16700s came with non-SEL bracelets didn't they? The non-SELs weigh a couple of grams less. Cheers

[Tools]

Originally Posted by AndersB

Tools! A great thread and a great watch. One thing though: I believe the weight that you have included in the facts list (127 grams) is for a watch with Solid End Links, and most (or all?) ref 16700s came with non-SEL bracelets didn't they? The non-SELs weigh a couple of grams less. Cheers

This is true, the 16700 will weigh around 123 grams, depending on the bracelet it comes with.

[michigander]

Originally Posted by lordcon

I find it interesting that the Rolex instruction manual refers to the watch as a "GMT Master I" as opposed to just "GMT Master". The "I" implies that there is a "II"? somewhere amist?

Because the GMT-Master II was sold along side it.

Here's my N (1991)

[AndersB]

Originally Posted by Tools

The original ref 6542, which had a very short life was black over red. [...]

The color quickly became the familiar "pepsi" dial within a few years.

Is it a confirmed fact that the first 6542s had black/red bezels? In pictures of some early examples it definitely seems as if the bezels are black/red although they are in fact very dark blue over red.

[Hanz079]

Just a question.
What series of this ref 16700 comes with spider dial?
Would a "w" series pepsi with spider dial deemed legit?
Some said during the early nineties, rolex have rectified the spider dial problem.
Thanks

[ScottP]

Excellent!!!

[Alinoe]

This is a great write-up, and was instrumental in helping me decide to pull the trigger on my own 16700!



I do have one question though. The seller said it was from 1996, but it has an S serial, which I read somewhere was 1993. Is there overlap in the serialnumbers/years? Or is it possible it was made in 1993 and just not sold before 96?

[sidlefaye]

its a wonderful watch to wear any day of the year.16700 needed more respect.vintage is cool.but i think the transitional are just as cool or even cooler.

[andyboy39]

Very informative.. Cheers..

[Nikko]

When were the last Pepsi / Coke dials made? 2007? What are the differences in the models through the years? I'm looking for a late model Pepsi and just wondering what I should look out for. Thanks - Nikko

[MATCH1969]

nice review, I had one 16700 but had to let it go for an incredible GMT 16760

[dcvelo]

Beautiful, I love mine to pieces, I almost let it go a couple of times, but still kept it. It is definitely one of the originals.
Cheers!!

[Kingair]

Just bought this GMT 16700 in LA . . .

U-model

HAGOne

[MC1988]

Beautiful...

[sidlefaye]

[juju38]

my TDW

16700 E

[bplein]

Nice post!

I use my GMTII-C differently, since it has the hour skipping function.

I always set the hands to local time. So if I fly from Texas to Germany, I bump the hours forward 7 hours. Then I set the bezel to my home time zone. This way I am using the hands for whatever time zone I am in.

A pilot might change time zones so often that this would be a pain, so they may be better off leaving the hands on their "home" time zone and only using the bezel for local. But I prefer to use the bezel to calculate time for any time zone, as I have staff in 3 time zones in the US, one in Japan, and a major customer in Germany. If I fly to another time zone, it's usually for 3 days or more.

[Tudor66]

Awesome write up...I have owned a 16710, and frankly I couldn't get used to the non-quickset date and the independently moving hour hand. I settled on a 1675 for my gmt needs, but I will consider a 16700 at some point...