ROLEX 116710LN - 15 year review!

[NIHO]

I purchased my 116710LN in 2007 about 15 years ago, right after it was introduced at Baselworld. Back then the Submariner was king and everyone thought it was a SUB. GMT Master II just didn't roll off the tongue. However, it was the first SS Rolex with the ceramic bezel (the sub would have to wait a few more years) so I had to have it. It also had the high quality bracelet/clasp reminiscent of the Daytonas of the time, a maxi dial like the 16610 LV (along with the trip lock crown), and the new movement. I remember the AD trying to sell me a 16710 with the new movement but I wasn't going to accept that! I wanted all the bells and whistles. My "connected friend" had to pull some strings to get me this watch so early. He died unexpectedly a few years later so this watch is very sentimental. For a while though, I was the only guy in town to sport one, so I felt very lucky. After about a year they were in every AD window.

My watch was my first Rolex and I felt faint after spending $5950 for a watch. Back then no one was protecting their watches, so I proceeded to do all these activities: swimming, snorkeling, weight lifting, soccer, running, cooking, gardening, biking, etc. My watch got pretty scratched up but nothing terrible, a regular watch. It was amazingly accurate: -1s/d for the first month, then 0s/d for many years, then a slow but steady increase to +6s/d after 5 years. I had it regulated by RSC (waited an hour while they did it - remember those days?) and then it was back to +1s/d for a few more years.

At 7 years I decided to have it serviced by RSC, and as a novice I didn't tell them not to polish. Unfortunately for me the polish was a bit much and they dulled the sharp edges. The watch was back to +1s/d and I was back to scratching it. For about 10 years I wore the watch daily. Now I have more watches so it is in rotation and I wear it probably about 5 months out of the year. 5 years ago I finally decided to brush the bracelet as I really hated the PCL (although I tolerated it for a decade). Never looked back on that one. 2 years ago I had a Rolex certified watchmaker "sharpen the case sides" again, which also ever so slightly reduced the lug boxiness. So here is my watch now, in all its glory. Still +1s/d with amplitude of 300, 8 years after service, 15 years of wear and tear. Since all the gaskets were replaced 2 years ago, I may be good to go for a long while.

Today these watches are trophies or stock certificates...I miss the old days.

[Mystro]

Great report.

[denmanproject]

Looks great

[JoeSiR]

Nice review! I enjoyed reading your story! Looks like you have build many memories with this one! ��

[brandrea]

Thank you for the trip down memory lane

That was my first ceramic reference as well. I traded my 16600 toward it. I think I had to pay $2000 on top of it

I still wish I had both

[samuel019]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Great report.

Agreed. Thanks for posting

[10klakes]

Love stories like this- thanks for sharing.

[JohnnyBer]

Awesome review, thanks! Only had mine for two years and it’s my favorite. Couldn’t bring myself to polish the bracelet so I purchased a Sub bracelet and it’s increased my love for the watch more.

Good health to you for the next 15 years!

[burnthesehills]

Still looks great! Cool read - thank you.

[eonflux]

Congrats on 15 years!!

I got my LN in 2008, was serviced after about 10 years.
I avoided polishing.

[myc ritz]

Never forget when this watch was introduced. Made me drop those Panerai's like dirty underwear. I favor the BLRO more now, but wore a 116710 for 10 years.

[GB-man]

Love it. This was my first Rolex in 2012. Just for a laugh and because it hurts I traded it AND and my first AP 15400 black plus $500 for a used Lange 1815

[RJRJRJ]

This was my first Rolex as well, and I believe the best overall Rolex there is, even though it's the lowest priced in my collection.

[NIHO]

I almost bought a 16600 the year before in 2006, but I chickened out at the $5k price. A year later I found the courage to pull the trigger on a Rolex

[NIHO]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Love it. This was my first Rolex in 2012. Just for a laugh and because it hurts I traded it AND and my first AP 15400 black plus $500 for a used Lange 1815

Lange is amazing and totally undervalued. I had a Lange 1815 automatic, traded it for a Richard Lange, and then traded it for a Lange 1 that I currently own. I hardly ever wear it because I am a Rolex guy and need a rugged watch, but when I do...brilliant!

[TheVTCGuy]

I congratulate you sir! Awesome watch and tribute to your late friend. May you enjoy it for many many more years! I look forward to your next report in 2037.

[NIHO]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Thank you for the trip down memory lane

That was my first ceramic reference as well. I traded my 16600 toward it. I think I had to pay $2000 on top of it

I still wish I had both

I almost bought a 16600 the year before in 2006, but I chickened out at the $5k price. A year later I found the courage to pull the trigger on a Rolex

[NIHO]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBer

Awesome review, thanks! Only had mine for two years and it’s my favorite. Couldn’t bring myself to polish the bracelet so I purchased a Sub bracelet and it’s increased my love for the watch more.

Good health to you for the next 15 years!

That is the best solution if you can find one at a good price.

[NIHO]

Originally Posted by myc ritz

Never forget when this watch was introduced. Made me drop those Panerai's like dirty underwear. I favor the BLRO more now, but wore a 116710 for 10 years.

I agree the 2 color versions are more GMT unique but back then only LN was available. My favorite is the PEPSI and I was on the list for years but finally got this instead as I never had a SUB and always wanted one. This satisfied my color envy.

[NIHO]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

I congratulate you sir! Awesome watch and tribute to your late friend. May you enjoy it for many many more years! I look forward to your next report in 2037.

from your mouth to God's ears!

[rolexjackson]

Very cool !

[afmars]

Awesome! Well done.

[huba01]

Nice read, thanks for sharing

[Carguy87]

Great story and thank you, truly, for sharing! This is the kind of stuff I love seeing on TRF! (Nice to not have another “what’s the value of this today” thread) excited for the 25 year Anniversary recap!!

[Steerpike999]

Brilliant, Thanks for the review and glad to see you are still enjoying it after al this time. It's a great watch

[MHB]

This is such an underrated piece. The green gmt hand is perfection.

I feel like they’re going to re-intro this with the new movement and jubilee option in the next couple of years.

Enjoy!

[george023]

Thanks for the update and congrats. I’ve got a 2017 Batman which will be due a service next year and I’m favouring getting it polished as it has a lot of dull marks on it…and a scratched crystal


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[Onequik135i]

Amazing story to go with an amazing reference, here’s too another 15 years cheers ��

[karleone]

Nice story and beautiful gmt!

[28mm]

Great read and thank you for posting it!

I remember seeing the 116710LN on a billboard in San Juan and picked it up down there for $5355 in 2009..I got a good discount as I got it with a 116713 at the same time.

Things seem to have changed in some ways..

Waiting for my 116710LN to come home from RCS "any day now"