Rolex GMT-Master II 'Coke', c. 1991

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

Why We Love It In 1989, Rolex rolled out the first model of its now famous GMT-Master II - the Reference 16710. They are a seamless blend of old and new, with vintage looks and modern technology—all that we could ask for in a Rolex. Whereas the current crop of GMT-Master IIs have gotten larger and heftier, the Reference 16710 is still a svelte 39mm, having the proportions of a GMT of yesteryear, with thin lugs and a bracelet with brushed—not polished—center links. The only obvious concessions to modernity are the glossy dial and and a sapphire crystal. Early versions used Tritium luminous on the dial, before transitioning to Super Luminova for enhanced visibility in low-light conditions. This particular example dates to circa 1991 and features a strong case with a flawless glossy black dial, patinated Tritium indices with a matching handset, and a 'Coke' bezel insert. Additionally, this piece includes punched papers as well as an RSC service card dated 8/19/2019. If you appreciate the functionality of a GMT-Master over a Submariner and are looking for a strong example of a Pre-Maxi case model with a subtle black and steel configuration, your search is complete! The GMT-Master Story The years following the end of The Second World War saw the world become a much, much smaller place. Advances in aviation technology led to the world’s first nonstop Transatlantic passenger flights between Europe and North America, and the era of the jetsetter began. Along with this new age of travel arose a need for travelers, and more importantly pilots, to have a wristwatch that could display two time zones at once. As a pioneer of transatlantic and transcontinental flight, Pan American Airlines approached Rolex in 1953 looking for a watch specially designed for their pilots, and Rolex agreed to take on the project. The newly designed Submariner became the base for this new watch, and several important complications were added. A date function with a cyclops lens magnifier, GMT complication, and two-colored bezel to provide long-haul pilots with the info they needed as they circumnavigated the globe. The GMT-Master’s 24-hour hand works in conjunction with a rotating bezel to make tracking a second time zone incredibly simple. When the wearer rotates the bezel so that the numbers around the bezel correspond to a second time zone (such as Greenwich Mean Time, the inspiration for the model’s nomenclature), it allows the watch to track any two time zones in the world at once. Not long after the debut of the GMT-Master at the Basel World Fair in 1954, Pan-Am adopted the GMT Master as its official wristwatch. Decades later, the GMT-Master and its “Pepsi” bezel has become a true icon of the watch world. It is instantly recognizable and eternally stylish – the very best of what Rolex has to offer.