16710 with a GMT Master only dial

[abs82]

Hi TRF,

I'm fairly new to the forums and hoping I can appeal to some more knowledgeable folks regarding a purchase I'm considering. I'm in the market for a GMT Master II with Pepsi bezel and recently came across the below watch which is being marketed as a 16710, however I noticed it has a GMT Master-only bezel which my understanding is that this dial would have only been on a 16750. I'm wondering if Rolex would have replaced a GMT Master II dial with a GMT Master dial on a 16710 for some reason or if a 16710 was ever offered with a GMT Master-only dial. I'm being told the watch dates from 1999/2000 so clearly should be a 16710 GMT Master II.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

[Tools]

It is probably a 16700 GMT Master, but the insert is fake and so it may be anything..

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by Tools

It is probably a 16700 GMT Master, but the insert is fake and so it may be anything..

Do you mean the whole watch is a 16700, or the dial is off a 16700? It's a SL dial and the case is fitted with SELs.

[abs82]

Originally Posted by Tools

It is probably a 16700 GMT Master, but the insert is fake and so it may be anything..

So if its a 16700 then presumably the bracelet is not correct also? Could this be some kind of frankenstein watch?

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by abs82

So if its a 16700 then presumably the bracelet is not correct also? Could this be some kind of frankenstein watch?

SEL bracelets require a machined groove in the case, which hollow link watches don't have.

[abs82]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

SEL bracelets require a machined groove in the case, which hollow link watches don't have.

Apologies if I'm not 100% clear on the terminology but my understanding is that SELs are a more modern addition to the oyster bracelets so if this a 16700, this bracelet is likely a later swap out, correct?

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by abs82

Apologies if I'm not 100% clear on the terminology but my understanding is that SELs are a more modern addition to the oyster bracelets so if this a 16700, this bracelet is likely a later swap out, correct?

Yes, SEL = solid end link. The easiest way to tell on Rolex watches is that the middle portion of the end link doesn't move.


My point was that a 16700 wouldn't have been machined to accept SELs, but this thread suggests that I might have been wrong:
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=357701

[abs82]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

Yes, SEL = solid end link. The easiest way to tell on Rolex watches is that the middle portion of the end link doesn't move.


My point was that a 16700 wouldn't have been machined to accept SELs, but this thread suggests that I might have been wrong:
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=357701

Thanks and great tip!

[brandonwahl]

Concerns about dial + concerns about bracelet + obvious non-authentic insert = stay away.

[abs82]

Originally Posted by brandonwahl

Concerns about dial + concerns about bracelet + obvious non-authentic insert = stay away.

Thanks very much brandonwahl - always good to have experienced eyes weigh in. Think I'll be saving my money here and looking for a better example!

[BrazenC5]

"Swiss Made" dial...what is the first letter in the serial number?

My x-serial 16700...like most with exception to a-serial comes with tritium dial and hands.

Too many contradictions with this one (they prob want full retail)...I would pass for a period correct example.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[southtexas]

16700 has a dial variant that doesn't have "II" on it. I don't know if 16710 does as well. Who is the seller?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[chows99]

This watch is very confusing. If in doubt stay away. Good examples of GMT master either 16700 or 16710 are plenty given number of years in production. Just be patient.

[swish77]

Dangerous, as stated above, but perhaps the seller just made a mistake in the listing and this is indeed a 16700. It could be a very late 16700, since they were made until 1999, I believe. Ask for photos of the reference and serial numbers. The case looks nice.

Again, tread carefully, but I've seen plenty of nice GMTs with bad/fake inserts. Genuine sapphire GMT inserts aren't that expensive, so I wouldn't let that be a deal-breaker. The other stuff ... yes, be careful.

[abs82]

Originally Posted by swish77

Dangerous, as stated above, but perhaps the seller just made a mistake in the listing and this is indeed a 16700. It could be a very late 16700, since they were made until 1999, I believe. Ask for photos of the reference and serial numbers. The case looks nice.



Again, tread carefully, but I've seen plenty of nice GMTs with bad/fake inserts. Genuine sapphire GMT inserts aren't that expensive, so I wouldn't let that be a deal-breaker. The other stuff ... yes, be careful.

As others have said above I think you're correct that it probably is a 16700. That being said if a seller can't 100% accurately list what they're selling then I'm not buying. GMTs of this era seem plentiful enough that I'll wait for the right one to come along. I'm actually more interested in a 16760 anyway.

Thanks all for the insight!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Gina Marie]

looks to me like the "II" has been removed or scraped off.....the GMT Master text is off center. At the right price not a problem since the dials are not that hard to find and not too expensive.

[Thuilln]

Looks like an authentic POS to me. Maybe just stay away from it.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by Gina Marie

looks to me like the "II" has been removed or scraped off.....the GMT Master text is off center. At the right price not a problem since the dials are not that hard to find and not too expensive.

When I first saw this, I thought the same. Then I looked at the 16710 I was wearing that day and the dial on this one looked REALLY different. It could be differences in dial marks (which I don't keep up with), but... they were pretty extreme - not the usual subtle hard to see stuff.