The 16710 is the last GMT-Master II with the aluminium bezel insert — produced 1989 through 2007, replaced by the ceramic-bezel 116710 the next year. Pepsi (red/blue), Coke (red/black), and black-bezel variants all sit under the same reference number. The wearable case (40mm, 12.6mm thick) and the period-correct color options make this the GMT a lot of collectors regret skipping in 2010 when they were still under $5,000.

What it is

The 16710 replaced the 16760 'Fat Lady' GMT-Master II in 1989, adopting Rolex's slimmer case and the caliber 3185 (and later, briefly, the 3186 with the redesigned GMT lever). Production ran through 2007. Three bezel-insert color combinations were factory-issued: black (most common), Coke (red/black, less common, mostly early production), and Pepsi (red/blue, the famous one).

Two crown-guard variants (square and rounded) span the production run.

Buying notes

Common things to check: bezel insert (originals fade to soft tones in sun-exposed examples — replacements are typically too vivid and even); crown (a Triplock crown is correct for the entire production run); dial (the swiss-only dial on early 1989-1990 production is a small premium; matching tritium lume on dial and hands is the originality check); the rehaut on a 16710 is NOT engraved; bracelet (the 78360 Oyster with 501B end-links is correct; later 93250 are also seen on late-production); 'service Pepsi' bezels are common — original-fade Pepsi bezels carry a meaningful premium.

Market read

The pre-ceramic GMT-Master II has been one of the strongest vintage-Rolex performers of the last decade. Honest Pepsi-bezel examples on Jubilee bracelets routinely trade in the high-$10,000s with full set; black-bezel examples trade meaningfully lower despite the same case and movement. The 'Coke' is the rarest factory configuration and trades at a premium when paperwork verifies factory issue (versus a swapped bezel insert).

Service expectations

Caliber 3185 service is Rolex routine; service intervals 7-10 years; cost in the high-three-figures from an independent or low-four-figures from Rolex. A 16710 from the early production years deserves a movement inspection before purchase — many examples are in the “service overdue” window.