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

[yannis]

Fantastic pictures and a very well written review! My passion for my GMT keeps on growing (though mine is not a 16700)!

[Rolexito]

Beautiful piece!......I´ve got one like it!

[GeoGio Greece]

A very nice post ! Thank you.

We consider GMT-Master as one of the best ever, and we love them. Two of these, ticking in Athens, Greece.



There are still many more, on this side of the world.

[roscoe58]

Thanks for the great information and pictures. I'm lovin' my 93' Pepsi GMT!

[kzm40]

Originally Posted by jtrader

I love the look of the GMT with the all black bezel. In fact if I would have bought mine with an all black bezel if I could have. But my only option at the time was the Coke with the new 3186 or a pepsi with the 3185. So I decided to go with the 3186.

Does anyone know how I might get my hands on a black bezel. I understand that there prob no longer being made since Rolex came out with the new ceramic bezel's.... Is this something that I would half to send in threw my AD to have done, or would I be able to find an AD that would order one for me?

Any advise would be great as I am wanting to expand my options with this timepeice!!

In the UK it's easy to get replacement bezels..I have Pepsi and Black..

[slc1310]

I just purchased a gmt, thank you for such a great lesson of it history,great post

[lobsterlee]

I'm seriously looking at a 16700... I do have one question though...

Q: A Serial 1999 "Swiss" only superluminova dial version - made for just 2 years in 1998/9

Is the above statement correct?

Much appreciated & what sort of ballpark figure am I looking at, as I have not seen many to compare...

Many thanks

[eyen]

I've seen U series with swiss dial.

[116520]

My 16700 is a "A serial".

[sexner]

Very nice write up, Larry. My third Rolex was an A series 16700. She served me well for 10 years.

[bartonjet]

All the looks of a sub with an additional complication...perhaps the best value for your dollar with regards to Rolex sports.

[4000 feet]

4000 feet here. I received a Rolex 16700 for high school graduation. I love the watch. It is an R serial number making it one of the first ones produced. I think this watch is undervalued and as time goes on collectors will take notice. Great watch and I am glad that I got one. at the time I got it I didn't know much about Rolex and all the stuff I have learned now. I urge anyone who wants one to get one . ya won't be sorry. thx 4000 feet.

[Jet]

Originally Posted by lobsterlee

I'm seriously looking at a 16700... I do have one question though...

Q: A Serial 1999 "Swiss" only superluminova dial version - made for just 2 years in 1998/9

Is the above statement correct?

Much appreciated & what sort of ballpark figure am I looking at, as I have not seen many to compare...

Many thanks

Is it true that the A serial "Swiss" only superluminova version was made only in 1998/9? I am excited because mine is indeed an A serial w/ "Swiss" only. I also purchased it new in 1999.

Can someone please confirm?

[sea-dweller]

Nice review !!!

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Tools

One unusual aspect of the 16700 - It was the only GMT to be offered with the 93150 Sub Style bracelet, which I preferred at the time:

Did the Sub bracelet have the diver's extension???

[2toneYachtMaster]

Great review!! Great pics!! My first Rolex was the GMT-Master 16700 E serial (1990). I purchased this watch a few years ago from a lady in South Carolina and it has been great. I have the original box and papers and come to find out it was purchased at Eurasia ltd. I had never heard of them before and found out they are an AD in Israel, thought that was interesting. I was wondering if anybody would know what they might have paid for the watch back then in Israel, more or less than in the US??? Great review, enjoyed it.


GMT master 16700 E serial Pepsi
Yacht Master M serial 18k/SS white dial

[dcvelo]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

Did the Sub bracelet have the diver's extension???

No, just the Sub style with the safety clasp, but no extension.
Cheers!

Tools Edit: The 93150 bracelet always comes with the extension, whether it is on the GMT (pilots flight suit extension), or on the Sub (diver's wet suit extension).

[Watch-connoisseur]

Great stuff and great watch. Mine say hi:

[noobperson]

Hello there,

I would appreciate your help on this. Do all GMT Masters, and specifically 16700s, have luminous markers?

Thanks.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by noobperson

Hello there,

I would appreciate your help on this. Do all GMT Masters, and specifically 16700s, have luminous markers?

Thanks.

Yes............. However, before 1998 they used Tritium, which may, or may not still be active... since the 16700 was discontinued in ~1999, there are only 2 years where they used Luminova and those will still glow brightly when charged by light.

So, the reality is that most 16700's will have lume that no longer glows in the dark..

[noobperson]

Great--thanks for the quick reply!

[jets]

I love these threads. Just like candy...

[MikeyTX]

Help ............. Need more storage space ..........................

[WouterN]

Another 16700 owner says hi from the Netherlands. Picked up this beauty yesterday morning. A nice addition to my collection (Sub Lv, Seadweller and some watches from other brands like Maurice Lacrois and Breitling). I think the watch is beautifull.. It's a 'Swiss only' (A serial) from 1999 with a Coke styled inlay. I am looking for a Pepsi inlay also just to have that option :)

[ABChop]

Just picked up this "A" series...........love it.

And yes that is the original black bezel that came with it.

[liv2rce]

Hello everyone, I found this forum after doing some research on the purchase of my very first Rolex. I picked it up from an Estate Jeweler in Charlotte, N.C.

From not really knowing much about all the different models available, I feel that I got very lucky on my first purchase of a Rolex. It is a 1989 GMT-Master 16700. It has the black 18k and stainless "Tiger's Eye" bezel, which is what caught my eye. I had never seen one like this and from all that I have now read, I realize that this did not come standard for this year but was an option (maybe someone can clarify).

The watch came with an aftermarket crocodile band with white stitching. It looks nice and fits with the whole black theme but I was thinking of getting a two tone 18k and stainless band to dress it up. I understand this model came with the oyster band, which I actually prefer over the jubilee. I know that to get and original could run me thousands (which I really can't do) but I want to stay true to the look. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I read that we shouldn't post links to aftermarket sites, so you can PM me with any info that might help.

Sorry if I hijacked this thread but when I did a Google search on the GMT, this was the thread it brought me to.......which is absolutely incredible by the way

[dogtown]

I just swapped my Sea-Dweller out for a 1999 A Series 16700 Pepsi and I love it!
Nice quickset date and gorgeous dial. I also have the black bezel cause those look killer too.

[Medtech]

Originally Posted by superformance

What was last year or series of the GMT 16700? Also what series did the fliplock type bracelet appear? thanks

The last year of the 16700 was 1999.

As discussed, the fliplock was an option on all the 16700s. Not sure when that bracelet "first" came to be.

[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