16710 experts... 'Born a Pepsi BLRO'... definitive guide?

[dcvh007]

Could someone explain whether the UK 16710 GMT Master II was every 'born' with a specific bezel... or was it down to the purchaser when bought new?

A buddy has been trying to source a 'born BLRO / Pepsi bezel' but they seem very hard to find.

We thought we were on to one on eBay, even had 16710BLRO swing tags (pics attached)... but on checking the serial with Rolex, it transpires even this one was 'born' an LN Black bezel.

Any guidance appreciated. Should he continue his search, or should he just get the best example 16710 he can find, regardless of bezel?

Many thanks in advance...

[Tools]

It varies from market area to market area whether the insert color is designated on original paperwork. If it is not, you will never know.

Generally, it doesn't matter as they have always been replaceable, cheap, parts that you could swap at will.

Now days, with the non-changeable ceramics, it seems that they are trying to change the old rules for 16710's to meet the new policy for ceramics.

[dricig]

Get the best example 16710 you can and install whatever insert makes you happy.

[GMT Aviator]

What Larry and Dave said....

[Thuilln]

Well, I’d be surprised if this hang tag wasn’t originally with the watch, so I doubt it was a black insert to start with.. but I could be wrong.

[1665fan]

Look at the style number on the papers. Mine says r16710B.....I believe that’s what makes it a proven born Pepsi

[timlaw]

http://www.gmtmasterhistory.com/gmt-...ref_16710.html

this is a good article on the 16710

basically if the papers / hangtag said just 16710 it left the factory as a coke
if they said 16710BLRO like the hang tag pictured it was a pepsi
if they said 16710LN it was a solid black bezel model on manufacture

mine is a Z series 16710 so is a coke bezel model



as above i am not sure it really matters

it is not possible in the UK at least to pop in to your local AD and ask them for a coke bezel to go with the pepsi you have as they will only sell you a new replacement on exchange for the one you have in the original colour that was on the watch - at least on the 3 occasions i have asked UK AD's i have been told the same

new rolex bezels are on sale on the forum in all colours for the 16710 but at $400 a pop if memory serves me correctly

[timlaw]

also as the serial numbers on the warranty certificate and the hangtag seem to match then if the serial number on the watch case matches the paperwork then that watch surely was made as a pepsi it seems to me

if the paperwork and the watch dont match then runaway fast

[Snowbob]

I bought my coke new in 2000 (it's a '99 model) and the model # is R16710A.

[Nikrnic]

I was looking on and off for awhile for any example 16710 in exc cond. A 16710N (F ser no.) full set finally found me last year from a one owner who bought 10 for his company employees and safe queened one of them since april 2005. Original black bezel. I did source a new correct pepsi insert to cure that itch. Being these are already out of production for 13+ years I'd just find the best example possible as prices seem to keep going up. I say widen your search and take any color bezel. Condition rules.

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[Lamontre]

Originally Posted by Nikrnic

I was looking on and off for awhile for any example 16710 in exc cond. A 16710N (F ser no.) full set finally found me last year from a one owner who bought 10 for his company employees and safe queened one of them since april 2005. Original black bezel. I did source a new correct pepsi insert to cure that itch. Being these are already out of production for 13+ years I'd just find the best example possible as prices seem to keep going up. I say widen your search and take any color bezel. Condition rules.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

Stunning ! did you find this one on Ebay or elsewhere?

[faimag]

These designations are only on US paperwork and maybe a few other countries (UK, and maybe some others?) - there are no designations on 16700s/16710s in the EU and Asian markets.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by faimag

These designations are only on US paperwork and maybe a few other countries (UK, and maybe some others?) - there are no designations on 16700s/16710s in the EU and Asian markets.

Exactly and in the real world the 16710 was made to have fully interchangeable
DIY inserts.

[ADR1982]

Get any version. It doesnt matter what it was born as. Its a 40$ insert swap

[996marty]

Surely the whole point of the 16710 is you can have all the bezels to change when you so desire

[timlaw]

yeah but where do you get them from? as i said my experience in the UK is that Rolex will NOT sell you one except as exchange for your existing bezel

i would love to get a new rolex pepsi insert but really dont want to pay $400 for the privilege

any help on where to buy one at less than ransome prices much appreciated

[timlaw]

the seller on this forum seems to be selling a lot at "offers based on $400" so where are they available at $40?

[strafer_kid]

Originally Posted by dricig

Get the best example 16710 you can and install whatever insert makes you happy.

Good advice. It's a great watch that despite the vast numbers made and in circulation, might become even more sought after if the current sports watch "impasse" continues or even becomes permanent?

[Onikage]

This born a Pepsi thing is nonsense to me. You want one with the mintiest lugs. Then change the insert. What use is a born Pepsi with crap lugs?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by timlaw

the seller on this forum seems to be selling a lot at "offers based on $400" so where are they available at $40?

They were available for exchange for around £45 at any RSC changed a few myself back in the early 20s cost then was £25.

[timlaw]

did they make "vast numbers"? do we have any reliable production stats for the 16710?

i suspect that more of us loonies only want mint unmolested full set examples ideally with a rolex service in the recent past - i know that was what i looked for 5 years ago when i bought mine although i had to get the rolex service done myself

there is isnt a vast supply of good examples out there and i suspect as the good ones have already gone into collections or are going into collections that supply will decrease and prices go up even more

i think that is what the price rise of this reference over recent years has shown

[timlaw]

Originally Posted by padi56

They were available for exchange for around £45 at any RSC changed a few myself back in the early 20s cost then was £25.

i know that as i had a new bezel on my 16710 last xmas at £37 when it was serviced - what i wanted was to know where people are getting additional rolex bezels from at reasonable prices as everyone on this thread seems to have all 3 colour variants

[Greg.A]

RSC at least from my country is getting very strict on the parts originality of the watch. Brought a 16710 with Pepsi insert to RSC, and was told that it originally came on black insert and they would not work on the watch unless the insert is changed. Thus, be careful to avoid any issues with RSC.

[timlaw]

Agreed as that coincides with my experience where I was told rolex will not allow frankenwatches to be created

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

[dricig]

Originally Posted by timlaw

Agreed as that coincides with my experience where I was told rolex will not allow frankenwatches to be created

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

A 16710 with any of the 3 bezels or 2 bracelets would not be a frankenwatch since the model originally had these options.

[ADR1982]

I bought mine from a watchmaker with a rolex parts account a couple years ago in Mumbai for the equivalent of 40dollars. I paid him another 40 bucks for labor to swap it out. Im not sure if they are still operational.

[timlaw]

That was the exact phrase said to me when I tried to order a jubilee bracelet and a pepsi bezel for my coke oyster 16710 by the SA I do a fair bit of business with

I pointed out that was nuts as my tudor gmt came on nato and he sold me the steel bracelet with no such concerns

But that is rolex UK policy so tough was his response albeit with some regret and very politely

So if you do not have the original bezel and bracelet it is a frankenwatch as far as rolex is concerned

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

[ADR1982]

What if you gave them the watch without any insert and said i need you to put in the pepsi/whatever which fell off?

Are they actually going to check some db and verify what it was?

[PepsiBezel]

I had a 16710, A Serial, that was purchased in Hong Kong in 2000. It has a hang tag that read “16710BLRO,” and for 20 years had a Pepsi bezel.

In 2018, a friendly AD in Kansas City sold me a Noir insert, and I installed it myself.

In 2019 I took it to the RSC in Seoul, with the Noir bezel insert, and asked them about replacing the click spring and a Coke Bezel. They took the watch in the back room, and came back and said they could only replace the insert with a Pepsi as that was what was original to the watch.... they did this sua sponte, without my prompting that it was originally a Pepsi.

So, in my experience, Rolex can determine based on serial number the original bezel insert.

All that said, if I was looking for a 16710 today, I would get the one in best condition with best lugs, and just either find a friendly AD to swap the insert or pay some slight premium to buy an insert from one of the many reputable sellers.

[Greg.A]

Originally Posted by dricig

A 16710 with any of the 3 bezels or 2 bracelets would not be a frankenwatch since the model originally had these options.

It is a franken watch because it didn’t came with what it was originally installed with, RSC is able to check in their system and will refuse to work on the watch.