GMT 16710 with AR Cyclops?

[roro]

Hi guys,

Haven't posted in a while but have been lurking. Didn't see much info on this topic so thought I'd ask.

Just picked up this beautiful 16710 GMT II D serial from 2005/2006 and noticed the cyclops had a lot less glare vs. my other 16710 from 2003. The magnification is also different and it has a slightly bluish tinge so I surmised that it must have the AR coating. However, I thought this didn't happen until the ceramic GMT's?

Then I thought it may be an aftermarket crystal but found the laser etched coronet at 6 o'clock.

Did Rolex equip some of the later 16710's with the AR coated cyclops?

Thanks for your input.

[marcotagudelo]

Congrats!!! those colors POP

my now gone pepsi D series had AR coating in the crystal as well.

i purchased pre owned like yourself

[roro]

Hi Marco,
Thanks for the reply and kind remarks. I just can't get enough of the Pepsi! The colors are hypnotizing

This one is also a 1st gen. "stick dial" making it just a little more special (and I didn't pay any premium for it)

I'd be curious to know if all D serial and up 16710's have the AR coating. Hopefully some others will chime in.

Any regrets on selling your's?

[flyingtiger85]

cyclops are sometimes inconsistent. i LOVE the color though. great pickup. congrats!!

[NKflyer]

The 16710 crystal is exactly the same size and part number as the current ceramic Subs and GMT's. So you could have a replacement crystal with AR that is significantly newer than the watch itself.

[roro]

Originally Posted by NKflyer

The 16710 crystal is exactly the same size and part number as the current ceramic Subs and GMT's. So you could have a replacement crystal with AR that is significantly newer than the watch itself.

Hmm, could be but the coronet doesn't have an "s" in the crown opening so that potentially rules out a service crystal. Either way, I prefer this to the non AR coated one one since it greatly improves legibility. Marco posted earlier about his D serial having an AR cyclops so it may just be common. I would be curious to know how many others have 16710's with an AR cyclops.

[roro]

Originally Posted by flyingtiger85

cyclops are sometimes inconsistent. i LOVE the color though. great pickup. congrats!!

Thanks Tiger. I am very happy with this latest acquisition

I agree with you. Cyclops tend to be all over the place. It reminds me of the time I was in the market for a Batman. I handled two of them side by side and they had noticeably different magnifications on the cyclops. I think there was a thread sometime back about this issue.

Does Rolex outsource their crystals? If so, that may explain the inconsistencies.

[037]

Originally Posted by roro

Hmm, could be but the coronet doesn't have an "s" in the crown opening so that potentially rules out a service crystal.

Service parts are no longer marked with an 'S'. That includes crystals and bracelet clasps. If you recently purchased the watch and don't know the history then there's no way knowing if the crystal originally shipped with the watch or was recently replaced in service. Either is possible.

[Gtecko]

what a beauty !

[roro]

Originally Posted by 037

Service parts are no longer marked with an 'S'. That includes crystals and bracelet clasps. If you recently purchased the watch and don't know the history then there's no way knowing if the crystal originally shipped with the watch or was recently replaced in service. Either is possible.

Yep, you're right. I just saw the thread about service crystals no longer marked with an "S" in the laser etched crown so no way of knowing. Actually I rather like the fact that the cyclops has AR. Makes it easier to read. This was a surprise I wasn't expecting when I received the watch.

[roro]

Originally Posted by Gtecko

what a beauty !

Thanks Gtecko. I have to agree with you there

Here's another pic of this one. It hasn't come off my wrist yet (even at night when I can admire the lume).

The crown logo also lines up perfectly on the screw down crown. Its the little things that bring such joy.

[Mezz72]

this is pretty normal.
if the crystal is chipped and needs to be replaced, rsc would
replace it with an AR one. Not sure about the coronet though...

[roro]

Originally Posted by Mezz72

this is pretty normal.
if the crystal is chipped and needs to be replaced, rsc would
replace it with an AR one. Not sure about the coronet though...

Right, but there's no evidence that this crystal was replaced. MARCOTAGUDELO also posted about his D serial with an AR cyclops (see post number 2). It may be that the AR crystals started showing up on D serials. That's what I'm trying to find out.

From my understanding, the laser etched coronet started showing up in 2003 and service crystals for a few years had sideways "S" marked inside the crown opening but this stopped sometime ago. This one doesn't have the "S" so it could go either way. Original or service crystal.

I would still like to know if any other D serial owners have an AR cyclops. Especially original owners who know the service history.

[037]

Originally Posted by roro

Yep, you're right. I just saw the thread about service crystals no longer marked with an "S" in the laser etched crown so no way of knowing. Actually I rather like the fact that the cyclops has AR. Makes it easier to read. This was a surprise I wasn't expecting when I received the watch.

Agreed. My current cyclops doesn't have AR underneath and I miss it. It's far easier to read with it than without. Next service I'll probably have the crystal swapped out.

[Chilly Coconut]

The 16710 was never produced with AR coated crystals as original equipment.

[rollee1]

I had the crystal replaced by RSC on my T serial 1997, it came back with AR crystal and LEC. Feels like a brand new watch, the job was perfect and the AR caught my eye when I picked it up, the date is very legible, there’s no S in the LEC.
Enjoy your watch.

[roro]

Originally Posted by rollee1

I had the crystal replaced by RSC on my T serial 1997, it came back with AR crystal and LEC. Feels like a brand new watch, the job was perfect and the AR caught my eye when I picked it up, the date is very legible, there’s no S in the LEC.
Enjoy your watch.

Thanks rollee1 for your input. As this watch was bought second hand, I don't know the service history. It could very well be a service crystal. Anyway, its better with than without.

[roro]

Originally Posted by Chilly Coconut

The 16710 was never produced with AR coated crystals as original equipment.

And this information comes from which source?

[GMT Aviator]

It’s a service replacement crystal, all legitimate.

I’ve actually had a couple of mine changed because it’s easier to read the date with the AR coating. You will also get the LEC at the same time.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by roro

Hi Marco,
Thanks for the reply and kind remarks. I just can't get enough of the Pepsi! The colors are hypnotizing

This one is also a 1st gen. "stick dial" making it just a little more special (and I didn't pay any premium for it)

I'd be curious to know if all D serial and up 16710's have the AR coating. Hopefully some others will chime in.

Any regrets on selling your's?

Nothing special about stick dials just a simple font change like the hundreds of others over the past 50 odd years.At one time on the net it was proclaimed it was a error dial, and all these would have a cal 3186 inside .But like many things about Rolex watches on the net it was complete and utter boswellocks but many today buy this hyped net boswellocks.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by roro

Hmm, could be but the coronet doesn't have an "s" in the crown opening so that potentially rules out a service crystal. Either way, I prefer this to the non AR coated one one since it greatly improves legibility. Marco posted earlier about his D serial having an AR cyclops so it may just be common. I would be curious to know how many others have 16710's with an AR cyclops.

Rolex no longer have the S in service dials.

[roro]

Originally Posted by padi56

Nothing special about stick dials just a simple font change like the hundreds of others over the past 50 odd years.At one time on the net it was proclaimed it was a error dial, and all these would have a cal 3186 inside .But like many things about Rolex watches on the net it was complete and utter boswellocks but many today buy this hyped net boswellocks.

Thanks Padi for your opinion. I'll give you mine: One man's boswellocks is another man's unique and collectible dial. These Rolex anomalies, whether they be feet first Submariners, Bart Simpson crowns, fat 4 inserts, Patrizi dial Daytonas, exclamation point dials, radial dial GMTs, stick dials and various other "crazyness" are one of the reasons many collectors are on this forum IMO. To learn together and share the knowledge about the finer details. This is what makes collecting fun and interesting IMHO. No need to rain on our parade Mr. Moderator

P.S. I very much enjoy reading your insights on the intricate details of the movements.

[bjw]

I also have a 16710 GMT II D serial from 2005/2006 (Coke) and it has a stick dial as well. Mine definitely does not have an AR.

[Onikage]

Sticks and no AR here.

[jaisonline]

From what I've read.
GMT 16710s weren’t produced with AR cyclops. Same goes for the engraved rehaut.

Near the end of the road Sub 16610s did get the AR cyclops. My M serial Sub doesn’t have the AR. It started with the V series (2008) or so.

http://thegreengmthand.com/about/use...iglare_cyclops

[roro]

Thanks everyone for chiming in. BJW, Onikage, lets see some pics! Thanks jaiseonline for the interesting link.

Evidence points to a potential service crystal on this D serial. I have a K serial 16710 without the AR crystal and comparing the two, the AR is a definite improvement. Both have the laser etched crown. I wear the D serial exclusively. I must say, I prefer the fonts and printing on the stick dial. The printing is somehow sharper and finer. I'll try to do a side by side pic soon.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by roro

Thanks Padi for your opinion. I'll give you mine: One man's boswellocks is another man's unique and collectible dial. These Rolex anomalies, whether they be feet first Submariners, Bart Simpson crowns, fat 4 inserts, Patrizi dial Daytonas, exclamation point dials, radial dial GMTs, stick dials and various other "crazyness" are one of the reasons many collectors are on this forum IMO. To learn together and share the knowledge about the finer details. This is what makes collecting fun and interesting IMHO. No need to rain on our parade Mr. Moderator

P.S. I very much enjoy reading your insights on the intricate details of the movements.

Looks like you have bought the internet hype to me like many of today's mainly internet hype collectors.

[roro]

Originally Posted by padi56

Looks like you have bought the internet hype to me like many of today's mainly internet hype collectors.

Nope. Just a dial configuration I prefer. I didn't pay a premium. Don't see how that fits your definition of a "hype collector".

[watchwatcher]

I don't have any technical expertise, but I do think I remember reading when the GMT2c came out, it was the first GMT to have the AR feature on the cyclops.

But, regardless, you have a beautiful watch to enjoy and treasure for many years. Congrats!

[roro]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

I don't have any technical expertise, but I do think I remember reading when the GMT2c came out, it was the first GMT to have the AR feature on the cyclops.

But, regardless, you have a beautiful watch to enjoy and treasure for many years. Congrats!

Thank you watchwatcher

I will do exactly that! This thing hasn't come off my wrist yet and my other watches are all very sad

Concerning the cyclops, a link to some interesting info was posted by jaisonline: http://thegreengmthand.com/about/use...iglare_cyclops