2002 Rolex GMT-Master II "Pepsi" 16710 Box & Papers
Ref: 16710
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-OwnedÂ
Box & Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original Rolex box, swing tag, additional OEM black GMT bezel insert and original Rolex paperwork and booklets. The watch comes paired with its brushed 20mm Rolex Oyster stainless steel bracelet with the Oysterlock system that prevents the bracelet from accidentally opening; all links are provided. The watch is from December 2002. The watch is all original, signs of wear can be seen on the case and bracelet, but overall it is in very fair condition for its age. A full case and bracelet refurb can be provided at an additional cost on request. The watch also comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hf72PrZK9iSnuBXVXgJbuVdfyJuzFDWl?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 2:48Â - https://youtu.be/lu3uVw5FYtk
The Watch
Here we have a 2002 Rolex GMT-Master II "Pepsi" 16710 Box & Papers. The GMT-Master story begins in 1955, when their very first pilot watch, the ref 6542, was made for Panam pilots. It featured a bakelite bezel. It was replaced with the ref. 1675, which was in production from 1959 until 1980, when the ref. 16750 was introduced. Rolex replaced it with the ref: 16700 from 1988 until 1999. At NASA, Jack Swigert of Apollo 13 wore one in 1970, and US Air Force pilots wore them. It was also worn by Sean Connery in Goldfinger in 1964. The GMT-Master II was launched in 1999 until 2007 with a curvaceous 40mm stainless steel case, ergonomically shaped with its subtle curve to the lugs, making for a very comfortable fit on the wrist. The polished sides transition with the brushed top surface. Crown guards protect the screw-down crown from any knocks. Its bezel has the iconic blue and red “Pepsi” insert, and 24-hour GMT numerals radiate around the bezel; the red indicates the daytime, while the blue signifies the nighttime. The sapphire crystal sits slightly above the bezel and has the Cyclops magnifier over the date at 3 o’clock. The black dial has SuperLuminova-filled white gold framed discs and batons marking the hours, and Mercedes hands with SuperLuminova infill, complete with a sweeping second hand and a lollipop counterbalance, the red GMT hand has a white SuperLumiNova arrowhead. At 12 o’clock, we have the “Rolex Oyster Perpetual” and at 6 o’clock, the “GMT-Master II Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” completes this charismatic traveller companion. On the reverse, a plain coin-edged case back, inside, an automatic Rolex Cal. 3185, 31 jewels, 28,800 beats per hour, it has both hacking and quick-set date functions. The watch comes paired with its brushed 20mm Rolex Oyster stainless steel bracelet, which has the Oysterlock system that prevents the bracelet from accidentally opening, all links are provided. The watch also comes with its Rolex presentation box, swing tag, additional OEM black GMT bezel insert, and paperwork.
Personal Note
The Rolex GMT-Master II is an icon of design in the watch world and the "Pepsi" is even more instantly recognisable, this 16710 features both the "Pepsi" and the all-black bezel, giving the owner the choice of something bold and bright or something more subdued and under the radar with the black, the choice is yours! This example is from 2002 and features solid end links, making this arguably one of the best models to acquire as you get the reassurance and sturdiness of solid end links, but the ease of drilled lug holes to swap straps quickly. I would not hesitate to add this model to your collection today!
The Brand
In 1905, German-born Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis set up a company in London that imported Swiss movements, which were installed in British cases and sold to jewellers who put their names on the dials. Recognising the potential for their brand, Wilsdorf created the brand name Rolex in 1908. In 1910, a Rolex became the first wristwatch to carry the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, awarded by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne, Switzerland. Demand for Rolex watches rose swiftly, and British taxes on the Swiss movements Rolex used prompted Wilsdorf to move the business to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1919. With production costs lowered, Wilsdorf quickly set out to solve the age-old problem of moisture and dust entering a watch case and damaging the movement. The Rolex watchmakers came up with a fully sealed watch case, which Wilsdorf named the Oyster and released to an appreciative audience in 1926. In 1931, Rolex introduced the first automatic winding wristwatch, giving it the legendary name Oyster Perpetual. In 1945, they released the Datejust. The Datejust was the first watch to have the date jump instantaneously at midnight. The 1950s saw a whole lot of releases, such as the Air-King (1958), the Explorer (1953), the Submariner (1953), the GMT Master (1955), the Day-Date (1956), the electromagnetic field resistant Milgauss (1956), the Lady-Datejust (1957) and the first Deep Sea model (1960). Wilsdorf’s death in 1960 saw ownership of Rolex S.A. (a collection of sub-companies) passed to the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, which was founded by Wilsdorf in 1945, the mission of which is simply to sustain Rolex S.A. indefinitely.