16750 tt Gmt Master with a white datewheel

[Bitfiend]

Hi,
I have a 16750 GMT Master, two tone, with a matte non-nipple dial on an oyster bracelet, It was passed to me by my dad, who traded a datejust for it in the late 80s, because he flew a lot, and he liked the legibility better.

I'm a watchmaker, and I've serviced it since the late 90s, but I recently noticed that the datewheel was different than another of similar vintage that came in. I've always been more of a JLC/IWC/Omega guy, so the color of the wheel didn't really mean anything to me.

The datewheel is white. I noticed the datewheel was a beige in the other, and looking online I'm seeing the other two tone Rolexes have that beige datewheel as well. Did any two tone GMT Masters (16750, easy date change caliber) come with a white datewheel, or was this replaced at some point?

There is no indication there was ever any moisture in it, plates and wheels are all spotless, so I can't think of any reason it would have been swapped unless the prev owner didn't like the color. (My father had sub hands put on his Datejust in the same era because he had a hard seeing the original hands, and he liked them better.)

Any experts want to weigh in?

[springer]

The 16753 was a two-tone GMT-MASTER, the 16750 was stainless steel.

The 16753 had a light yellow date wheel, the early 16750s date wheel was a grayish silver color and the later ones were white.

[Bitfiend]

Thanks.
So I pulled the bracelet off, and looked at the case. It's engraved 16750. So apparently that explains the datewheel. Somebody added the gold bezel, crown, tt bracelet & dial & hands way back.

I'm looking at parts to put in in original configuration. (Im not a big fan of two-tone anyhow) Not cheap.

Is there any way I can find out what color the original bezel insert was by the serial number? Are there different dial variations, hands etc.? I'd like to get the correct parts.

If so, where do I start looking?

[Tom1675]

Originally Posted by Bitfiend

Thanks.
So I pulled the bracelet off, and looked at the case. It's engraved 16750. So apparently that explains the datewheel. Somebody added the gold bezel, crown, tt bracelet & dial & hands way back.

I'm looking at parts to put in in original configuration. (Im not a big fan of two-tone anyhow) Not cheap.

Is there any way I can find out what color the original bezel insert was by the serial number? Are there different dial variations, hands etc.? I'd like to get the correct parts.

If so, where do I start looking?

You probably just want to buy yourself a 16750. But...

Insert is a pepsi blue back
Dial could be matte or glossy with gold surrounds depending on your serial #
78360 bracelet
580 endlinks
going to have to get someone to confirm on hands
you'll need a steel bezel as well

Again, this sounds like a headache and ultimately wont be worth it unless the fact that the watch was your Dad's means that much, but when you're done here, it wont really be the watch your Dad wore.

[Bitfiend]

Thanks much!

My dad is still around, thankfully. Looks to be about 3.5kish in parts, I can do the work myself. I actually don't wear it much because it's two tone, so it's a bit of a blessing in disguise. I assume I'll be able to recover some of the expense selling the two tone parts.

I hope it's a matte dial without applied markers, I like the looks of that one best. Serial is 8466752. How do I find out?

[Bitfiend]

Ok, did a little search with what you gave me and it looks like it's the applied marker dial. Oh well.

How do we know it wasn't a black bezel insert though?

[Tom1675]

Originally Posted by Bitfiend

Ok, did a little search with what you gave me and it looks like it's the applied marker dial. Oh well.

How do we know it wasn't a black bezel insert though?

Good point! I don't know if you will ever know if your Dad doesn't...

[Bitfiend]

Does the 16750 use the same rotating bezel as the 1675?

[mbc]

Originally Posted by Bitfiend

Does the 16750 use the same rotating bezel as the 1675?

inserts same size too, but 1675 correct bezel insert red-back (which you don't need) would cost a lot more vs.16750 insert blue back

[1675-David]

I have a nice blue back insert, drop me a PM and I'll send over some images

[Sherbie]

Depending on serial number, early 16750 came with red backs. Later 16750 came with blue backs

Can you post some photos of your watch please?


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[mbc]

Originally Posted by Sherbie

Depending on serial number, early 16750 came with red backs. Later 16750 came with blue backs

Can you post some photos of your watch please?


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the OP stated a 8.4 almost 8.5mm serial, solidly blue back territory...

[Sherbie]

I have a 8.58 16750 with a red back




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[Sherbie]

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[mbc]

Originally Posted by Sherbie

I have a 8.58 16750 with a red back




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You learn something new everyday-- news to me. great watch

[mbc]

Originally Posted by mbc

You learn something new everyday-- news to me. great watch

Here's my 7.3mm serial with black bezel, no blue, no red, just black!