That Pepsi fading away...

[S52]

So I flew a trip last week with a Captain who was also wearing a 16710 Pepsi on his wrist. I immediately complimented him and we placed our wrists side by side.

I was taken back by the fade on my Bezel! My GMT is my daily wearer so I guess its harder to notice when its on my wrist every day- but the side by side really showed the fade.

I decided to see what the oldest picture I could dig up of my watch was- found one from June 2014:



Heres one from this morning:



As you can see it has gone from a nice virbrant red to an almost pink hue in 7 years time. The blue is getting a bit purple as well.

Must be all that extra radiation its exposed to cruising up at 38,000' on the regular.

I'm half tempted to obtain a new Aluminum insert to get it looking nice and fresh again- (of course saving the original bezel)- but the other side of me says screw it lets see just how faded we can get it going!

[Timetracker]

It looks great! If you mess with it, everyone will know the radiation has gotten to your noggin;-)

[dnd2984]

That’s well deserved patina with a great story!

[SS Oyster]

Looks lovely - enjoy it!


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[S52]

Originally Posted by Timetracker

It looks great! If you mess with it, everyone will know the radiation has gotten to your noggin;-)

Originally Posted by dnd2984

That’s well deserved patina with a great story!

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

Looks lovely - enjoy it!


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Thank you! Glad others agree I'm not crazy for liking the fade.

I would estimate looking at my logbooks that this 16710 has logged approximately 4,000 hours in the cockpit since first placed on my wrist ~12 years ago.

[khalifam]

Wow Stunning

Is this from just daily use? Do you ever take it in the sea / water because I know that can develop some fade...

Wear in good health!!

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[S52]

Originally Posted by khalifam

Wow Stunning

Is this from just daily use? Do you ever take it in the sea / water because I know that can develop some fade...

Wear in good health!!

Sent from my SM-F926B using Tapatalk

Its been wet before but very rarely. I can only think of about 2-3 times I went for a swim in either the Ocean or a Pool wearing it.

It does get daily worn though, hence the many scratches, dings, and imperfections.

Has also spent close to a year cumulatively in the intense heat and sunshine of the Middle East from prior deployments from my time in the Air Force.

[Thuilln]

Is your insert genuine? The 2’s look weird.

[Stan Cooper]

16710 pepsi bezel inserts with faded red command a premium on ebay. I think it looks great, but getting a new service insert with vivid colors just to have is probably a good idea.

[Bill11783]

Looks awesome. I would not change a thing. The fade makes it your unique Pepsi.

[S52]

Originally Posted by Thuilln

Is your insert genuine? The 2’s look weird.

Yes. Insert has never been changed since new to my knowledge.

It has been to an RSC for servicing but I am always very explicit to not swap parts or polish the watch.

[dcash0615]

Love the faded bezel. Keep rocking that Pepsi as is.

[PepsiBezel]

Originally Posted by Thuilln

Is your insert genuine? The 2’s look weird.

I agree… also the fade colors are not what I’ve seen before. I’m not an expert but there is a great thread on 16710 inserts on the vintage forum side of TRF.

The red flag is that the top of the “2” hook overhangs the bottom of the two.

317C79F1-9C74-4108-8992-E5E6BE355E7A.jpeg

Compare the “2” on your insert, above, to a non-serif font “2” below:

ED5389ED-C025-448F-8840-0786DCE6E6C7.jpeg

OP, acknowledge that RSC didn’t swap the insert, but you’ve had the watch for seven years (and it hasn’t been in production for 14 years).

I’d probably get a new insert…

[S52]

Originally Posted by HarryFlashman

I agree… also the fade colors are not what I’ve seen before. I’m not an expert but there is a great thread on 16710 inserts on the vintage forum side of TRF.

The red flag is that the top of the “2” hook overhangs the bottom of the two.

Attachment 1241227

Compare the “2” on your insert, above, to a non-serif font “2” below:

Attachment 1241229

OP, acknowledge that RSC didn’t swap the insert, but you’ve had the watch for seven years (and it hasn’t been in production for 14 years).

I’d probably get a new insert…

I'll do some research on the insert. I have actually owned this watch since 2011 (10 years) It is an F serial.

It did visit the official RSC for service about 5 years ago under my ownership. I would think they would have been all over it having a counterfeit insert... but I guess you never know. The insert has never been changed under my ownership, so I find it hard to believe that it was swapped when I purchased the watch when it was only 4 years old.

I'm gonna spend some time comparing pictures of other 16710's against mine.

[PepsiBezel]

Originally Posted by S52

I'll do some research on the insert. I have actually owned this watch since 2011 (10 years) It is an F serial.

It did visit the official RSC for service about 5 years ago under my ownership. I would think they would have been all over it having a counterfeit insert... but I guess you never know. The insert has never been changed under my ownership, so I find it hard to believe that it was swapped when I purchased the watch when it was only 4 years old.

I'm gonna spend some time comparing pictures of other 16710's against mine.

Good luck!

Hard to say what may have occurred prior to your ownership. Did yours come with papers/hangtags indicating it was “born” a BLRO?

Here is the thread by Springer, and expert, on the “hooked 2” counterfeit inserts:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=462474

The photo I posted previously was from an insert purchased from a TRF trusted seller in 2020 for my 16710LN (F Serial).

Here is a picture of an insert purchased from an AD w/ Rolex Parts account for my previous 16710B (A-serial). I got the insert in 2018, and it came with the blister package. You can see the “two” is different from yours.

A4F845BF-3060-462C-9900-96D390D88EFA.jpeg

[TheVTCGuy]

I mean no offense, and I completely understand that a lot of people appreciate the patina, for me however, I prefer the watch to look it’s best at all times. You can always get a new bezel, it’s just me, but I would.

Whether you do or not, from one aviator to another, enjoy that great watch!

[springer]

Sorry, but the bezel insert is not a genuine Rolex insert. It is what is referred to as the "hooked 2" fake insert.

Check the reference library where I placed a thread there years ago on the fake and genuine insert comparisons.

Below is a genuine insert on an F serial numbered GMT II 16710 which I owned in the past. Notice the insert's "2s" on the watch below are different than on the OP watch and also the "8s" are different on the genuine inserts when compared to the fake insert.

[springer]

Originally Posted by Bill11783

Looks awesome. I would not change a thing. The fade makes it your unique Pepsi.

While the insert might look "awesome" it also is fake. Why would you want a fake insert in your watch?

[S52]

Originally Posted by springer

Sorry, but the bezel insert is not a genuine Rolex insert. It is what is referred to as the "hooked 2" fake insert.

Check the reference library where I placed a thread there years ago on the fake and genuine insert comparisons.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by HarryFlashman

Good luck!

Hard to say what may have occurred prior to your ownership. Did yours come with papers/hangtags indicating it was “born” a BLRO?

Here is the thread by Springer, and expert, on the “hooked 2” counterfeit inserts:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=462474

The photo I posted previously was from an insert purchased from a TRF trusted seller in 2020 for my 16710LN (F Serial).

Here is a picture of an insert purchased from an AD w/ Rolex Parts account for my previous 16710B (A-serial). I got the insert in 2018, and it came with the blister package. You can see the “two” is different from yours.

Attachment 1241235

Yes the watch came with box, manuals, and papers indicating it was indeed a BLRO from the factory. The original insert must have been swapped before my purchase.

It does make sense to me now as to why it faded out in such a quick time frame. Especially since most of the newer 16710 models dont have this fade.

Hopefully a new correct insert won't be too difficult to procure!

[Rori]

Originally Posted by S52

So I flew a trip last week with a Captain who was also wearing a 16710 Pepsi on his wrist. I immediately complimented him and we placed our wrists side by side.

I was taken back by the fade on my Bezel! My GMT is my daily wearer so I guess its harder to notice when its on my wrist every day- but the side by side really showed the fade.

I decided to see what the oldest picture I could dig up of my watch was- found one from June 2014:



Heres one from this morning:



As you can see it has gone from a nice virbrant red to an almost pink hue in 7 years time. The blue is getting a bit purple as well.

Must be all that extra radiation its exposed to cruising up at 38,000' on the regular.

I'm half tempted to obtain a new Aluminum insert to get it looking nice and fresh again- (of course saving the original bezel)- but the other side of me says screw it lets see just how faded we can get it going!

Please don’t touch, let that aging process continues. Check it again in 10 yeas. This is the beauty of it compared to modern once.
For this reason those watches are more valuable that the ceramic generation.
Is the dial showing the latina as well?

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[zapokee]

Originally Posted by S52

Thank you.

Yes the watch came with box, manuals, and papers indicating it was indeed a BLRO from the factory. The original insert must have been swapped before my purchase.

It does make sense to me now as to why it faded out in such a quick time frame. Especially since most of the newer 16710 models dont have this fade.

Hopefully a new correct insert won't be too difficult to procure!

Excellent positive reaction to Springer's analysis. Some people would have reacted with hostility or denial.

This attitude to life is why you can afford a GMT in the first place.

[chieftd]

Originally Posted by S52

Thank you.



Yes the watch came with box, manuals, and papers indicating it was indeed a BLRO from the factory. The original insert must have been swapped before my purchase.

It does make sense to me now as to why it faded out in such a quick time frame. Especially since most of the newer 16710 models dont have this fade.

Hopefully a new correct insert won't be too difficult to procure!

Maybe the loadmaster swapped it out while you were in crewrest?

Thoughts from an old retired loadmaster (C-141 1980-2000)

Nice watch just the same.

Cheers, Tim