SOTC # 7 of 16: ROLEX GMT-MASTER 2 16710 PEPSI
/ROLEX GMT-MASTER II 16710 PEPSI
As I frequently travel for business and pleasure, I wanted a good GMT watch to see the time in two different time zones - wherever I was and home in LA. And what better than the Rolex GMT-Master, which is the standard bearer for all GMT watches. I really wanted the older, aluminum bezel version over the newer ceramic ones. It’s odd - I prefer the the 16710 over the 116710 for the GMT models while I like the 114060 over the 14060 for the Sub. The 16710 is a bit more elegant, classically shaped and oh that Pepsi colored bezel…. In my opinion, the Rolex GMT-Master II 16710 with the blue/red aluminum bezel insert, is the one of the best looking Rolex watches ever made.
So I begun my search in earnest towards the end of 2016. Condition was important, preferably recently serviced but not polished and local in SoCal. After a couple of false starts, I finally found one from OCWatchGuy in Orange County in May 2017. It’s from 2005 and at the time, this one was serviced a year ago by its prior owner at the Rolex Service Center in Beverly Hills. He must have been a watch guy because he declined the case polishing, all cosmetic part replacements of the bezel, dial, hands. This one is also a bit special and rare because it has the stick dial, where the font of the II in GMT-Master II resembles two sticks instead of the Roman numeral two that the majority of GMT-Master 2 have. Some of these even have the modern 3186 movement, but I believe mine has the 3185 movement since it fails the wiggle test. I’ll know for sure come service time.
I picked it up during Memorial Day weekend of 2017 and I can’t think of a better time as it makes a great summer travel watch.
/ TOMMY