Name: Rolex GMT-Master II (pre-ceramic, aluminium bezel) 16710
Brand: Rolex
SKU: 16710

The 16710 is the last GMT-Master II with the aluminium bezel insert, produced 1989 through 2007, replaced by the ceramic-bezel 116710 the next year. Pepsi (red/blue), Coke (red/black), and black-bezel variants all sit under the same reference number. The wearable case (40mm, 12.6mm thick) and the period-correct color options make this the GMT a lot of collectors regret skipping in 2010 when they were still under $5,000.

What it is

The 16710 replaced the 16760 'Fat Lady' GMT-Master II in 1989, adopting Rolex's slimmer case and the caliber 3185 (and later, briefly, the 3186 with the redesigned GMT lever). Production ran through 2007. Three bezel-insert color combinations were factory-issued: black (most common), Coke (red/black, less common, mostly early production), and Pepsi (red/blue, the famous one).

Two crown-guard variants (square and rounded) span the production run.

Buying notes

Common things to check: bezel insert (originals fade to soft tones in sun-exposed examples, replacements are typically too vivid and even); crown (a Triplock crown is correct for the entire production run); dial (the swiss-only dial on early 1989-1990 production is a small premium; matching tritium lume on dial and hands is the originality check); the rehaut on a 16710 is NOT engraved; bracelet (the 78360 Oyster with 501B end-links is correct; later 93250 are also seen on late-production); 'service Pepsi' bezels are common, original-fade Pepsi bezels carry a meaningful premium.

Market read

The pre-ceramic GMT-Master II has been one of the strongest vintage-Rolex performers of the last decade. Honest Pepsi-bezel examples on Jubilee bracelets routinely trade in the high-$10,000s with full set; black-bezel examples trade meaningfully lower despite the same case and movement. The 'Coke' is the rarest factory configuration and trades at a premium when paperwork verifies factory issue (versus a swapped bezel insert).

Service expectations

Caliber 3185 service is Rolex routine; service intervals 7-10 years; cost in the high-three-figures from an independent or low-four-figures from Rolex. A 16710 from the early production years deserves a movement inspection before purchase, many examples are in the “service overdue” window.

Editorial copy is AI-drafted from primary sources and reviewed by Grail Atlas before publication. Where the text is uncertain about a fact, it says so. Email corrections@grailatlas.com if something reads wrong. Signals on this page (community, OSINT) are clearly separated from the editorial sections.

Last GMT-Master II with an independently adjustable 24-hour hand before the current 126710; the "LNIB" market for this reference is strong.

Uncommonmost sought#2 in familyOfficial press photos

Originality

Originality matters on this reference. An original dial and hands command a significant premium. Service replacements typically trade at a 20-40% discount to original examples.

Dial variants

Pepsi bezel (red/blue) with matte dial1988 to 1999UncommonSought

Red/blue anodized aluminum bezel insert
Flat matte black dial with thin tritium plots
SWISS T<25 or Swiss Made underprint
Fat font vs later thin-font dials

Early 16710 Pepsi examples with matte dials are harder to find in honest condition than the later glossy versions. Collectors prize the matte surface for its tie to the vintage 1675.

Coke bezel (black/red) with glossy dial1999 to 2007CommonStandard

Black/red anodized aluminum bezel insert
Glossy lacquered black dial
Superluminova plots replacing tritium
Thin-font dial printing

The late-production 16710 with Coke bezel and glossy dial is the most common configuration. It is a straightforward buy with no dial-specific premiums or pitfalls beyond the usual bezel fade concerns.

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In-house manufacture caliber · caliber Rolex Cal. 3185: in-house automatic GMT, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; bidirectional rotor, Nivarox hairspring; predecessor to current 3285 · 48h power reserve (2 days)

Also uses Rolex Cal. 3185

Medium-large: suits wrists 6.5 in+ (16.5 cm+)

40 mm case. Wears confidently on average to larger wrists. May overhang on slender builds.

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Authentication

The 16710 is the last steel GMT before the ceramic-bezel generation and carries strong collector demand. Bezel inserts and bracelets are the most frequently misrepresented components.

Known issues in the market

Aluminum bezel inserts fade and crack with age; replacement inserts are common and should be disclosed.
The "Pepsi" (blue/red) and "Coke" (black/red) variants command premiums; bezel swaps between variants are occasionally misrepresented.
Franken-watches built from period-correct cases with non-matching serials and movements appear at lower price points.

Area	What to check	What is correct	Red flag
dial	GMT arrow hand presence and color	Additional red GMT hand with arrow tip at 24-hour scale; should track smoothly through 24-hour bezel	GMT hand replaced with standard hour hand; incorrect red color or arrow shape
case	Oyster Perpetual Date GMTMaster II engraving on case side	Text runs along the case midband; crisp and deep consistent engraving in Rolex typeface	Shallow engraving; incorrect text; case midband engraving absent
caseback	Serial and reference alignment	16710 reference between the lugs at 12; serial between lugs at 6; both in period-correct Rolex typeface	Serial number outside the 1989-2007 production range for this reference; inconsistent font
movement	Cal. 3185 vs. 3186 determination	Early 16710 uses Cal. 3185; later production upgraded to 3186 with Parachrom hairspring; both are correct depending on serial range	Non-Rolex movement; Cal. 3135 (no GMT function) in a case stated as GMT
bracelet	Jubilee or Oyster bracelet correctness	Original 16710 shipped on Oyster; Jubilee was an option; both are correct; end-link numbers should match bracelet generation	End-link numbers inconsistent with known 16710 production period; non-Rolex clasp

Common legitimate replacements

Aluminum bezel insert replacement after fading or chipping is the most common alteration.
Bracelet clasp replacement with later Rolex clasps happens at service; earlier clasps are desirable to some collectors.
Crystal replacement is routine; confirm sapphire with correct Rolex cyclops magnifier.

Expert resources: Rolex Forums GMT-Master subforum holds extensive 16710-specific production knowledge including serial ranges. The WatchCSS GMT-Master dial guide maps text variants to production periods. Period Correct Parts publishes known-good aluminum insert color standards.

Authentication guide

Last reviewed June 2026

The 16710 is the last steel GMT-Master II before the ceramic-bezel era and carries strong collector demand. Aluminum bezel inserts fade and are frequently replaced; bracelet end-link matching and movement caliber confirmation are the next priorities.

Known reproduction risks

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HIGH RISK

Franken-watches assembling authentic-era cases with non-matching movement calibers or mismatched bezel inserts from different GMT variants.

Serial number range inconsistent with the stated bezel variant (Pepsi inserts were not available throughout the entire production run)
Movement without genuine GMT function -- local hour advance that simultaneously moves the GMT hand
Case midband engraving depth inconsistent with the rest of the case aging

MEDIUM

Outright replicas targeting the 16710 configuration.

GMT hand red color that does not match the red section of the bezel insert in saturation
Brushed lug top surfaces that have been polished uniformly, erasing the correct brushing pattern
Case midband "GMTMaster II" text in an incorrect font weight or character spacing

Dial variants by era

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Era	Description	Identifiers
1989 to 2007 (black, Coke, or Pepsi bezel)	Three bezel variants are authentic for this reference: all-black, black-and-red (Coke), and blue-and-red (Pepsi). The dial itself is always black with the red GMT arrow hand.	Black dial with white applied hour markers Red arrow GMT hand -- the arrow tip should align precisely with the 24-hour bezel scale "GMTMaster II" text on the case midband in period-correct typeface Date window at 3 o'clock with 2.5x cyclops magnifier Aluminum bezel insert -- ceramic was not used on the 16710

Service part flags

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Bezel insert

Original: Aluminum insert in one of three configurations: all-black, Coke (black upper, red lower), or Pepsi (blue upper, red lower). Original inserts show fading concentrated on the red sections and the pip at 12.

Replacement tells

Insert that appears too fresh on an aged case with worn bracelet and crown
Color saturation on the red sections that is brighter than on authenticated examples of similar age
Pip that has been re-inked to restore color depth
Ceramic insert -- never correct for the 16710; ceramic was introduced only with the 116710 successor

GMT hand

Original: Red arrow GMT hand that tracks the 24-hour bezel independently. The hand must be set by rotating the bezel while the local hour hand is adjusted in one-hour increments at crown position 2.

Replacement tells

GMT hand replaced with a standard blue or black hour hand -- incorrect color and profile
Arrow tip with incorrect proportions that does not track the 24-hour scale cleanly
GMT hand lume plot color inconsistent with the dial indices (both should match in material generation)

Bracelet

Original: Oyster bracelet is standard; Jubilee was an option. End-link reference numbers should match the known production period for the 16710. Clasp uses two-letter date code on the inner clasp arm.

Replacement tells

End-link numbers inconsistent with known 16710 production period (1989 to 2007)
Later-generation Oyster bracelet from the 116710 with different link dimensions
Clasp without a two-letter date code, or with a code that places manufacture outside the 16710 production window

Case back markings

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1989 to 2007

Solid caseback -- no exhibition window
"ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE GMTMaster II" engraved in the outer ring (note the spacing pattern)
Serial engraved between the lugs at 6
Reference 16710 engraved between the lugs at 12
Serials in the R through Y range cover the majority of production

Movement tells

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Early 16710 examples use Cal. 3185; later production (approximately Y-serial onward) upgraded to Cal. 3186 with a Parachrom hairspring. Both are correct depending on serial range.
Cal. 3186 Parachrom hairspring appears blue-violet when viewed from the balance side; the earlier 3185 uses a standard alloy spring.
The independent local-hour function: advancing the local hour hand must not stop the seconds hand. If seconds freeze during local-hour adjustment, the movement has been swapped for a standard two-hand GMT without the quick-set.
Cal. 3135 (non-GMT) placed in a 16710 case is a documented movement swap -- if the second crown position adjusts the local hour with no GMT function, suspect a Cal. 3135.

Sources: Rolex Forums -- GMT-Master subforum, 16710 production and authentication threads; WatchCSS -- GMT-Master dial and text variant guide; Period Correct Parts -- aluminum insert color standard documentation.

Rolex

GMT-Master

Ref. 16713