The Rolex GMT-Master is a watch that speaks for itself. It stands as an undisputed icon in the world of timepieces, effortlessly enabling its wearer to keep track of two separate time zones concurrently. Initially conceived in the 1950s to cater to the needs of Pan Am pilots, who were embarking on increasingly frequent transatlantic flights, this invaluable instrument watch served a multitude of purposes. It not only ensured precise monitoring of both home and local time but also played a pivotal role in minimizing scheduling discrepancies, mitigating jet lag, and even boosting pilot morale.
Offered here today is a later example of a Ref. 16710 ‘Pepsi’, which saw a production run from 1989 up until 2007. Within the lineage of Rolex GMT Masters, the Ref. 16710 stands out as a significant transitional reference alongside the Ref. 16700, which was released a year earlier in 1988 and remained in production until 1999. It played a pivotal role in shaping the foundation for many of the design traits seen in today’s modern GMT Masters lineup, featuring a slimmer case profile of 40mm x 12.5mm compared to its bulkier predecessor—the Ref. 16760, as well as marking Rolex’s shift from the usage of tritium to Luminova between 1998 and 1999, and subsequently to Superluminova after 2000.
Powering this Ref. 16710 from within is Rolex’s very own Cal. 3185, a robust, self-winding GMT movement that is based on the Cal. 3135 and is fitted with an adjustable 24-hour GMT hand. It is also worth mentioning that collectors discovered a quirky way to verify whether the movement is indeed a Cal. 3185: by observing if the GMT hand wiggles slightly during adjustment of the hour hand, which is an intriguing characteristic of this specific calibre.
To travel with any GMT-Master on the wrist is certainly to travel in style, combining practicality with that mid-century cool. As John Mayer once famously said, ‘the GMT-Master is the best contemporary watch that Rolex makes’, a sentiment I find myself inclined to share, simply because the GMT function is truly the most practical modern-day complication to have on the wrist. All it takes is one look at the wrist and you will be able to tell the time for your selected timezone. For someone like me, or I am sure many of you, who travels a lot or even conducts business on the other side of the world, a GMT-Master is without a doubt, a welcomed tool. It certainly is faster than fumbling around with your iPhone to find out.
