1980 16750 Bezel Insert

[armypilot]

Greetings fellow forum members. I am looking for some assistance. I have a GMT-Master ref. 16750 serial # 665**** which I believe places it as a 1980 manufacture. I bought it new in Jan 1982. Well back in the day prior to joining TRF in 2005 I just thought of as my work watch. Didn't know about the nuances of font, red back, tritium versus Luminova, etc. In 2000 the bezel insert was so faded you could hardly make out the numbers on the blue side, the hands were severely corroded, and the tritium on the 24 hr hand was cracked. So took it to my AD and asked to have its periodic service and while he was at it, to replace the bezel insert and the hands. Everything was completed and he called me to come pick it up. It looked fantastic, like new almost. He asked me if I wanted the old parts and I told him to throw them away, oh well, who knew! Fast forward 5 years later and I find this forum and found that I had made a grave mistake. So to cut to the chase, I am asking if someone can post a picture of a 1980 16750 GMT-Master with an original insert so I can see what the font looks like on the Pepsi insert. I'm not planning on spending thousands of dollars on a mint, original, red backed insert, but I am hoping the insert I currently is the correct font for the period. Have included a pic of mine. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

[lhanddds]

This is from 82 or 3


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[armypilot]

Originally Posted by lhanddds

This is from 82 or 3


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Sir,
Thank you for the response. Near as I can tell, they look the same. It's been almost 20 years since I replaced the original insert and I just don't remember what the font looked like. For now I am happy with the one I have. Maybe one of these days I will come across a mint red backed original. To be honest, I still don't like the look of severely faded inserts where they are completely unreadable.

[dhknola]

If only we knew what we were throwing away some times! Good luck in the hunt, these bezels, and all old bezels it seems, are going for thousands. Saw one similar to above and seller was asking 5k.

[tekno]

Armypilot,
We need a medium font red back from what I was told. I’m going to be looking for one, and I will let you know the prices I run into. Even if your not wanting to buy one at least you will know, I think I can find some that aren’t crazy expensive.

For now I have the same insert you do on my 1983, just a little worn/faded.




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[jakerusty]

Recently I’ve orders three different faded 16750 bezels on eBay. 2 were fakes. $850 and $950 - both sellers did immediate refunds. So hard to find authentic and the right fade. I have a 1982 and have a new RSC Pepsi bezel on it until I find the right one that’s not $5k!!! FML.


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[armypilot]

Thanks for the info. Let me know what you find out.

[armypilot]

Originally Posted by jakerusty

Recently I’ve orders three different faded 16750 bezels on eBay. 2 were fakes. $850 and $950 - both sellers did immediate refunds. So hard to find authentic and the right fade. I have a 1982 and have a new RSC Pepsi bezel on it until I find the right one that’s not $5k!!! FML.


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I have a Pepsi one and a black one I got from my AD when he serviced it and replaced the hands in 2000, I only paid $100.00 for the two. The one in the picture that I started the thread with, I got from Greekbum last year and I don't remember what I paid for it but it was only a few hundred. Can't really justify spending thousands on an original when I only paid $630.00 with no tax for the whole watch when I bought it new at a PX in Germany in 1982.

[onthedial]

@armypilot
A lot of early 16750s had their inserts swapped out over the the years. Usually this was done when the owner brought the watch in for a service and had the handset replaced. Like you said, these era handsets were prone to corrosion. Anyway, your current set up looks fine, but if you wanted to aquire a period correct red back, you can probably find a decent example for $1400 - 1600 range.
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Instagram: @onthedial

[armypilot]

Originally Posted by onthedial

@armypilot
A lot of early 16750s had their inserts swapped out over the the years. Usually this was done when the owner brought the watch in for a service and had the handset replaced. Like you said, these era handsets were prone to corrosion. Anyway, your current set up looks fine, but if you wanted to aquire a period correct red back, you can probably find a decent example for $1400 - 1600 range.
—————-
Instagram: @onthedial

Thanks,
From the responses I have received, it seems that this inserts' font is pretty close to the original. This picture is with the insert that I got from my AD in 2000. The font style seems the same with the fat bottomed eights but they are non serif and seem a little bit thinner than the insert I have on it right now. This is the fade it had in 2006 after being on the watch for six years.

[btinl]

I just acquired this ‘82 16750.




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[springer]

I would look for one like this:

[armypilot]

Originally Posted by springer

I would look for one like this:

Thanks Springer,
The eights with ovals for the top holes like the one in your picture is more like what I remember. This one is on the Bay is blue backed though. Are these genuine Rolex, or after market?

[tekno]

That blue back is real, but I think we can find red backs for the same price.


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