93rd Auction
2016/5/14
Lot 110
Rolex "Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II Superlative Chronometer officially certified", Case No. M351226, Ref. 16710, Cal. 3186, 40 mm, circa 2002
A gentleman's extremely rare automatic M serial wristwatch, the last production serial for the 16710 GMT Master II with "Pepsi" bezel, 24h indicator and date - only very few had been produced
Case: steel, screw back ref. 2180, screwed "Twinlock" winding crown, steel "Oyster" Fliplock bracelet ref. 78790A. Dial: black. Movm.: rotorwind movement, Glucydur balance.
Only very few copies of this watch have ever been produced and most of them were delivered to the United States. At first glance the watch looks like any other "GMT Master II"; there are, however, a number of significant discrepancies, the most important one being the way the "II" is written on the dial: "II" is no Roman numeral but the font is sans-serif – called "sticks" by the collectors.
Then there is the calibre. The usual GMT Master II models used the standard calibre 3185 for more than 20 years, while the 16710 "M" series now uses calibre 3186 with a new Rolex "parachrom bleu" hairspring. Calibre 3186 is the same movement that was used in the Rolex GMT Master 1167X series replacing series 1670.
The combination of a late reference 16710 model with stick dial together with calibre 3186 is extremely hard to find and has gained a reputation as an extreme rarity with collectors.
A gentleman's extremely rare automatic M serial wristwatch, the last production serial for the 16710 GMT Master II with "Pepsi" bezel, 24h indicator and date - only very few had been produced
Case: steel, screw back ref. 2180, screwed "Twinlock" winding crown, steel "Oyster" Fliplock bracelet ref. 78790A. Dial: black. Movm.: rotorwind movement, Glucydur balance.
Only very few copies of this watch have ever been produced and most of them were delivered to the United States. At first glance the watch looks like any other "GMT Master II"; there are, however, a number of significant discrepancies, the most important one being the way the "II" is written on the dial: "II" is no Roman numeral but the font is sans-serif – called "sticks" by the collectors.
Then there is the calibre. The usual GMT Master II models used the standard calibre 3185 for more than 20 years, while the 16710 "M" series now uses calibre 3186 with a new Rolex "parachrom bleu" hairspring. Calibre 3186 is the same movement that was used in the Rolex GMT Master 1167X series replacing series 1670.
The combination of a late reference 16710 model with stick dial together with calibre 3186 is extremely hard to find and has gained a reputation as an extreme rarity with collectors.
Sold
estimated
8.500—11.000 €
Price realized
8.700 €