REDBACK coke insert for sapphire GMT ???

[rolstaff]

Hi guys, I am curious if anybody could give some more informations about redback inserts for sapphire GMT models.

I own this supernice fatlady 16760. The watch has never been polished. It is like NOS, maybe never worn, maybe only a few times.
It is the very 1st series, 8.4 mio from 1984 with so-called nodate dial, papers and clasp code I (1984). I am pretty sure everything is original / authentic, especially the insert.


Yesterday a good friend told me, the color of this insert (deep winered) looks like on of those very rare redback coke inserts for sapphire GMT models.
Redback sapphire inserts ? I never heard before.

Also I never demounted the bezel ring of my fatlady in the past. I did yesterday and found - a redback sapphire insert !!!


It seems like the very first fatladys came with those redback inserts. I guess many of them were replaced over the time so we don't know much about...

The color is a deep winered and the surface is different to usual coke inserts, it looks / feels a bit like emaille...

Does anybody have some more informations ??


Here we go with some pics:

[E46seca]

Gorgeous watch

I don't know anything about a red back on those. Just familiar with the 1675 red backs..... Again beautiful love the jubilee band on the GMT

[rolstaff]

Thank you !!!

Nobody who knows something about redback sapphire Inserts ?? Would love to have some input...

It´s maybe the rarest GMT insert of all ??

As far as I know the very first fatladys came with those redbacks. Probably most of them were replaced by bluebacks during a service....

[sillo]

Originally Posted by rolstaff

Probably most of them were replaced by bluebacks during a service....

The other type would be black back insert.

I’m not too familiar with 16760s, but I’m interested to hear more if anyone else chimes in.


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[TurboWatch]

The insert is authentic. I think they were OEM on the watches and never were made available as service replacement that was the reason why we don't see that many of them around.

[rolstaff]

Yes, of course black back Sean.

I am sure, this insert is authentic, as the whole watch is.
Also agree, that they were OEM on the watches and never used as service.

Would be nice to know the serial range of the watches with those redback inserts. Probably the first series with "nodate" dial. Maybe longer....??

[Sherbie]

If this helps, i have a 1984 16750 pepsi, with 8.5 mln serial - it also came with a red back insert, with also deep wine red colour

So time period certainly fits and i agree with all the good peeps here - seems totally legit

Fantastic watch by the way


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[springer]

Originally Posted by rolstaff

Thank you !!!

Nobody who knows something about redback sapphire Inserts ?? Would love to have some input...

It´s maybe the rarest GMT insert of all ??

As far as I know the very first fatladys came with those redbacks. Probably most of them were replaced by bluebacks during a service....

It's worth 10s of thousands of dollars

[billydgates]

Will a pepsi red back 16750 insert fit in the 16700

[shaunylw]

Really great looking insert color.


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[springer]

Originally Posted by rolstaff

Thank you !!!

Nobody who knows something about redback sapphire Inserts ?? Would love to have some input...

It´s maybe the rarest GMT insert of all ??

As far as I know the very first fatladys came with those redbacks. Probably most of them were replaced by bluebacks during a service....

Sorry, service red/black inserts are not blue backs. No 16760 came with blue backs which are commonly referred to as "pepsi."

As far as your insert, I've owned and seen many fat ladys from the mid 1980s and never seen one that color or with a matching reddish-colored back side.

I've never had anyone ask me about fat ladys having red backs or tell me they've seen one. I'm not convinced...but....

[springer]

Originally Posted by billydgates

Will a pepsi red back 16750 insert fit in the 16700

Not properly.

[rolstaff]

@sherby: The insert you mean is for a plexy GMT. There are a few thousands plexy redback inserts out there, but not redback inserts for sapphire GMT models.


@springer: of course 16760 inserts came with black back and not blue back. Already corrected it, see #6

Coke redback inserts exist and they are authentic, that is not the question. Those redback coke inserts are known by european collectors. What I would like to know is the time period when 16760's came with those inserts from the factory.

The reason, that you have never seen them, is the short production period and the fact, that they were not used as service inserts. Those aluminium inserts got scratches by wearing and where replaced many times during service...

This fatlady shown above is like NOS. You can see it in the pis. Its the very first series 8.4 mio with nodate dial. I guess it has not been worn and never been serviced and that is the reason why it still got his original redback coke insert...