16750 GMT Master - First Vintage Rolex

[Pilot1985]

Dear All!!

First official post in the forum, I have been a vivid reader of the forum for almost 2 years.
It is a daily reader for me in the mornings with my breakfast.

I have to thank all the members for all the valuable information and knowledge shared as it has helped me immensely in my first Rolex vintage purchase.

I hope I can contribute more to the forum later in the years, but I feel that I have much to learn so is better to watch and learn.

Im an airline pilot in Europe, sitting at home for the past 14 months waiting to get back in the air..
I was for more than 1 year maybe more on the hunt for a GMT form 1985 (yes birthyear watch )

Every morning looking at different forums for new sale post for a GMT. Finally one day on a watch forum in Norway I find what is now my first vintage Rolex. And I have to say I am in love of the watch.

I paid for the watch and a friend of mine picked the watch in Oslo and then with all the covid restrictions I had the watch in my possession after 1 year, it was a long wait, but it was worth it.

SO here it goes I hope I can describe my watch in pictures and words (sorry in advance for the amount of them ) and my personal assessment of the watch with what I've learned here.

Rolex GMT Master 16750 S/N #865**** according to charts form 1985

Case: Has been polished in the past, I would like the opinions on the state of it, I am considering bringing it back to life to a much newer state but it does not bother me that much.

Dial: 16750 MK3 Dial (according to one post in the reference library) with NO DATE. Spider dial, for some I can understand is damaged, for me is special and is only visible from certain angles so it brings that special thing to it.
There is a small dot 2 o'clock from the coronet not visible to the naked eye, I do not know what could have caused it.

Hands: I do not know if they are replacements or the original. They are slightly lighter in patina than the lume plots on the dial. The second hand is cracked on the lume.

Neither the Lume plots on the dial nor the hands react to UV light.

Bezel Inserts: 3 of them came with the watch.
1 red back probably belonging to a 1675
2 blue back that seems correct for this watch with nice faded red.
3 Bleached and hooked 2 blue back (fake, aftermarket , you name it.)

Bracelet: Oyster 78360 I5 Clasp code (May 1984) still correct for this watch I believe they need to be within 1-2 years form the serial of the case.
580 Enlinks.
I assume the bracelet was tightened at some point as there is barely any stretch.

Crystal: Mineral cristal (do not know exactly what material but is not sapphire ;) ) I also do not know if it's a service replacement or not. I know there should be some 2,xx amount of magnification on the Cyclops but really not in the capacity to say anything.

Date wheel: Open 6 and Open 9, again here I have no idea if it is period correct or not.

Extras: The watch came with RSC from Sept 2019 from the Rolex in Oslo.
Box and punched papers, calendar and GMT manual except the oyster manual.
and handtags. I have not taken any photos of the extras but I will post if anyone wants to see :)

The watch is keeping time according to COSC specs and im impressed for its age but I guess being serviced thats how it should go.

The previous owner is a member on the forum and I want to thank him for giving me a dream watch that I will cherish in good health for a long time.

Also thanks again to all the Rolex forum members for this fantastic community. I welcome all your feedback!!!

[swish77]

Congrats! Cool watch and story. Certainly a prodigious array of photos.

Seems as if you did some serious homework and have broken down all aspects of the watch. Would be curious to see a shot of the B&P.

I’d leave the case alone. Appears to have been polished several times already, and if you’re happy with it, that’s all that matters. Enjoy!

[springer]

Congratulations. As Swish mentioned, how about some photo of the accessories.

[swaini3]

Congrats. Nice detailed pics. You will be in the skies soon (fingers crossed), with a nice watch.

[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by swish77

Congrats! Cool watch and story. Certainly a prodigious array of photos.

Seems as if you did some serious homework and have broken down all aspects of the watch. Would be curious to see a shot of the B&P.

I’d leave the case alone. Appears to have been polished several times already, and if you’re happy with it, that’s all that matters. Enjoy!

Thank you for the feddback!

Shots of the B&P coming now :)

Regarding the case it certainly does not bother me that much.. But having seen the works of LAWW and Rollieworks gives me a bit of thinking weather to do it or not. The results are quite impressive.

Im located in europe so I think the expenses unless i travel to USA are pointless. But I have seen this guy in italy that does the same work and the results are also amazing. I found him in a thread in the forum. on IG is il_menzerna

[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by springer

Congratulations. As Swish mentioned, how about some photo of the accessories.

Thank you!!

photo of the accessories coming next!!

[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by swaini3

Congrats. Nice detailed pics. You will be in the skies soon (fingers crossed), with a nice watch.

Thanks!! Yes fingers crossed, in Europe things are slowly starting to pick up but very delicate situation with the governments travel restrictions.

Hopefully soon I can take a wrist photo at 37'000 ft

[Pilot1985]

Here the photos of the accessories.


I did failed to mention the crown was changed I guess during the last service.

Papers are not filled which obviously leaves me with some doubts...

[alwayshere]

congrats! looks good

[Sherbie]

Red backed insert would be correct for this date

My 16750 with serial 8.58 mln ( also a “no date” spider dial with open 6 and 9 date wheel, from 1984) has a red backed insert


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[Hkspwrsche]

Nice score! I was just looking for example papers to show the original owner of my 16750. He’s more worried about finding them than I am! Good chunk of money.

[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by Sherbie

Red backed insert would be correct for this date

My 16750 with serial 8.58 mln ( also a “no date” spider dial with open 6 and 9 date wheel, from 1984) has a red backed insert


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Our GMT's are not so far in S/N

How about a photo of yours?

Did not know Red back were correct for the late 16750. Good to learn something new!

[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by alwayshere

congrats! looks good

Thank you !!

[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by Hkspwrsche

Nice score! I was just looking for example papers to show the original owner of my 16750. He’s more worried about finding them than I am! Good chunk of money.

Thank you!!

I hope he finds them soon for you!!

[swaini3]

A blue back will be ok for yours too as they had already out by then. Nice set.

[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by swaini3

A blue back will be ok for yours too as they had already out by then. Nice set.

Do you know or any of the members aprox when blue back bezel appeared?

Thank for the nice feedback!

I was quite happy to have received good feedback from you and other members and glad did not f**ked my first vintage purchase..

Now lets look for the next one for the collection

[swaini3]

Originally Posted by Pilot1985

Do you know or any of the members aprox when blue back bezel appeared?

Thank for the nice feedback!

I was quite happy to have received good feedback from you and other members and glad did not f**ked my first vintage purchase..

Now lets look for the next one for the collection

Early to mid 80. Good luck with your next hunt.

[springer]

Originally Posted by Pilot1985

Do you know or any of the members aprox when blue back bezel appeared?

Thank for the nice feedback!

I was quite happy to have received good feedback from you and other members and glad did not f**ked my first vintage purchase..

Now lets look for the next one for the collection

1983 to 1984

[dannymiller]

Glad to hear the wait was worth it. Nothing matters than your happiness in getting your desired watch.

[Chris75]

Congrats, very nice watch.

I have a similar serial(slightly earlier) with matte dial.

[Stan Cooper]

Congratulations on your acquisition; it's a classic, and with the B&Ps you have provenance.

[Sherbie]

Originally Posted by Pilot1985

Our GMT's are not so far in S/N

How about a photo of yours?

Did not know Red back were correct for the late 16750. Good to learn something new!

Here you go



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[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by springer

1983 to 1984

So it could be a fair assumption than during that period you might still find red back until they ran out of stock? would that be a fair statement?

[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by dannymiller

Glad to hear the wait was worth it. Nothing matters than your happiness in getting your desired watch.

Thank you

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

Congratulations on your acquisition; it's a classic, and with the B&Ps you have provenance.

thank you

[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by Chris75

Congrats, very nice watch.

I have a similar serial(slightly earlier) with matte dial.

Earlier than 8.58 mill??

[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by Sherbie

Here you go



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Awesome looking GMT

[Chris75]

Originally Posted by Pilot1985

Earlier than 8.58 mill??

Yes, 8.4

But yours is totally ok: 1983 is the transitional year between matte dial and white gold indexes, usually with spider dial as yours, since first white gold indexes dial had this problem. .

[Jackie Daytona]

Beautiful watch. I would add that the case in my opinion is great as is.

It’s a 37 year old watch, taking that into consideration it shouldn’t be mint, and I think that yours looks really good for wear and tear and polishing.

[Pilot1985]

Originally Posted by Chris75

Yes, 8.4

But yours is totally ok: 1983 is the transitional year between matte dial and white gold indexes, usually with spider dial as yours, since first white gold indexes dial had this problem. .

Yes I was just wondering since you said it was a close serial to mine.

To know if it was between mine that is 8.65 and Sherbie's GMT that is 8.58.

Yours could well be on the last batches of 16750 Matte dial

Originally Posted by Dontknow

Beautiful watch. I would add that the case in my opinion is great as is.

It’s a 37 year old watch, taking that into consideration it shouldn’t be mint, and I think that yours looks really good for wear and tear and polishing.

Thanks I also think in person looks better than the photos. Hard to believe is that old. Really dont know if I will ever do something to the case.

[HanDavinci]

Beautiful, enjoy it!

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