Going Full Rolex Rain Man on the GMT 16700

[@davidmohr4004]

You are hands down the best and and most enjoyable research provider. Just great information, well delivered. I really enjoy your content and find it very helpful.

[@watchsymposium]

Thanks David - I very much appreciate that!

[@showcasewatches3465]

You are the true Rolex enthusiast, you are NOT a fan boy, you are the real deal enthusiast and expert 👊👊👊

[@MartinGarthwaite]

I bought my two sons at GMT in 1999, it is a lovely watch, I will send over some photos.

[@ALLinHerMovements]

Austin, hands down you are the pre-ceramic Rain Man and watching your videos has definitely made me consider them.

[@yousif4646]

Such a knowledgable and a humble man, Austin. It’s so real I doubt he even has to plot or plan his vids. Well done, Mr Daniels!

[@watchsymposium]

Thanks - I really appreciate that!

[@dc1735]

Fantastic to be able to discuss this topic for 20 minutes non stop👍

[@tkm3207]

As a GMT fanatic this is absolutely one of your best videos EVER!!! Thank you! 👍

[@ccsheday]

Of your recent videos this one was one of your best. You can feel your passion through the lens.

[@edotedy]

I've got an unpolished, all original X serial 1991 16700 first sold on March 1994. I can confirm your observation that It has a thick font sans serif pepsi insert (upon high magnification it has a very small serif but not prominent as the serif coke early 90s inserts I have). Another easy way to identify is also is the blue/red transition line setout/placement is a bit different than the serifs pepsi and service/later pepsi 16710 insert. Also, the early 16700 insert has a flat 4 on the inside while the service/later pepsi has a pointed 4 on the inside. This was actually a point of observation my local watch group discussed during a gtg and it was quite interesting identifying these minute details.

[@mikelindbergh642]

I was looking first on the 16700, but in the end I settled for an unpolished 16710 from 2003, because it has the Luminova (unlike most of my other vintage Rolex watches). Love my GMT Master 2!

[@Patrick_B687-3]

You can see the same thing with service bezels they are currently putting on 16570s at some RSCs, or perhaps all of them. They have been popping up for sale online and if you’ve worn the original, it hits you right in the face. It’s the same font as the newer 42mm models.

[@paolo_eh1621]

Very captivated video, please keep them coming. I have purchased a "T" serial 16700 with box and paper came with black (original) and faded pepsi bezels two years ago. I took it into my local authorised dealer here in Switzlerland (Bucherer) and they were able to replaced with a new pepsi bezel and let me kept my faded pepsi bezel for the cost of 100 CHF. (took them less than a week)

[@Harry_16710]

Could listen/talk about GMTs all day. Great video, Austin!👍🏼

[@stemplar]

Awesome video Austin! Your passion for Rolex and the GMT range really shines through! I have two 16710’s: one with the Serifs and one Sans Serif (multiple color bezels - Pepsi, Coke and Black)! Have to say I have a soft spot for the Serif fonts!! 👌🏻👍🏻

[@Michelle-rv8xm]

Gmt Master 16700 is an amazing watch, and I prefer it over the 16710. It's the last produced GMT of Rolex, the last of the last. Very handsome and classic. Great taste.

[@barrymeaden5712]

Hi Austin, You know your stuff man. Very impressed with your knowledge.

[@pablozorro3507]

Incredible detailed knowledge. Fascinating if a little confusing at times 😉

[@krishnar3493]

Fantastic video, Austin. 16700 would be my choice.

[@blueshirtbuddah1665]

Another excellent and informative video Austin!

[@heljestrand]

Recently purchased a 16710 Pepsi D Serial “Stick dial” from DavidSW DavidSW DavidSW and it was quite reasonable. Box, Red COSC tag and 2016 service card. I’ve acquired additional period correct manuals on eBay to cobble together a closer to full set minus original warranty card. My now forever Rolex.

[@watchsymposium]

That's great! I love those anomalous GMT's - enjoy it!

[@Treetopflyer777]

Holy smokes. And I can’t even remember what I ate for breakfast

[@rikgroenevelt9395]

Oh yeah. I have smiled during the whole video i did not understand a bit. I like the video’s a lot

[@robdove8341]

As far as "useability" goes, I think the quickset date function on the 16700 wins the day.

[@mtnslyr]

I’d be adjusting the date more than the bezel so yeah u r right.

[@marktrett1652]

Great vid Austin 👍

[@admiralcraddock464]

Got me completely lost. I`m off to look at some quantum mechanics as i might just have a chance of understanding that.

[@coronetmag]

Awesome research! Didn’t know about serif vs sans serif and I’m glad you mentioned it. Recently saw a 16700 with serif fonts and thought the bezel was original. Now I know it wasn’t. Vintage Rolex buying is a path fraught with danger.

[@wesleymartin6618]

I’m looking at a 16700 right now U serial has font font. I had no idea it wasn’t original.

[@watchsymposium]

It very well might've been original, Danny. I'd take this video as general guidelines. It seems like most Swiss only 16700's have the serif inserts, so maybe they did phase those into the line as it was ending. The older 16700's seem to have the sans serifs.

[@coronetmag]

@@watchsymposium Just hours before wiring the money, I decided to back out. Love the watch. Eventually someone else grabbed it: nashvillewatch.com/product/rolex-gmt-master-16700-pepsi-s-serial-rsc-service/

[@watchsymposium]

The insert seemed pretty minty for a 1993 piece. I saw that it came with an RSC service card, so my guess is that it might've been swapped out during a service. Makes me wonder if there was a period when all of the inserts being made - both service inserts and the ones on new pieces - were the serif ones. Making this video now has me wanting a 16700...what did I do to myself!

[@coronetmag]

@@watchsymposium I do like the clean “GMT-Master” on the dial as opposed to the extra Roman numerals added to the name. I also like to keep (even on my 116710LN) the GMT hand matched to the hour hand. If the watch is stopped for lack of wear, I can tell if it stopped at 10am or 10pm. So I essentially use my GMT II like a GMT I. But I would miss *dearly* the jump hour hand, feature I use most as a pilot when I travel. (Did you know the Cellini moonphase had a jump hour hand 😄)

[@colinallan1962]

The best pre ceramic as it was the first to have a sapphire crystal rather than acrylic.

[@masonjones3780]

I have a 2001 gmt master 2. love it

[@samspackman8750]

"stopped by the bank to wind my watch" love it!

[@watchsymposium]

Lol, I really should of edited that part out!

[@KK-qi6mt]

My 16700 that I purchased in 1998 came with a black fat font serif bezel.

[@watchsymposium]

That's good to know. Thanks for clarifying that that kind of bezel did come on the 16700.

[@KK-qi6mt]

@@watchsymposium I have only had it serviced once so it hasn’t been tampered with by anyone. I changed the bezel yesterday to a Pepsi bezel to see what it is like and I have been looking at KZbin clips to work out if the Pepsi Bezel on the 16700 is period correct. That is how I came across your KZbin video. At the time I bought it I was buying the cheaper version of the GMT and now I am finding out that this was the last of the Pan Am line of watches. So I am happy not that I will sell it.

[@joseinluzon2218]

I have an Explorer II, black dial, tritium-marked Luminova dial. “A” serial number. At first it freaked me out until I read more about them.

[@jonathansmith283]

A D - amazing knowledge / recall on the rolex minutiae. - in Japan , what do you do for a living ? ~ JDS/CT

[@rabelosancho]

I had to stop, rewind, re-rewind, pause, re-pause and so on to visually understand wtf “serifs” actually look like

[@juliop5197]

lol ... me 2

[@curious5557]

@Austin Daniels - I am a watch rookie, and especially a Rolex rookie. Are all of the Rolex bezels interchangeable? GMT to GMT? Diver to Diver? GMT to Diver and vise versa?

[@watchsymposium]

Good question - I'm not sure. I've never thought about mixing and matching inserts like that.

[@curious5557]

@@watchsymposium I know you mentioned it in your video, but I assumed maybe that bezels on certain models of Rolex could be switched in and out.

[@Loosetooth]

Sunday GMT bezel talk and RSC tourism.

[@Salman8800]

I have a W serial (1995) 16700 LN with a Serif bezel insert, bought new in 1995 and never serviced.

[@wesleymartin6618]

So a all black 16700 GMT Master U serial, with a fat font bezel. That’s what I’m looking at. Is it original or service?

[@cestmoi2681]

Ninja behind you !!

[@ALLinHerMovements]

Austin, please come back! Did the 16700 ever come with a Coke bezel? I just saw one.

[@watchsymposium]

Hi Penny! No, it never did. The Coke has only ever been on the Master 2's. But apparently back in the day AD's would put a Coke insert in a 16700 if that's what the customer wanted. Rolex used to be so much more lax back then.

[@ALLinHerMovements]

@@watchsymposium Thanks, Austin! I’m on the hunt for a Coke bezel GMT but the Fat Lady has soared in price recently.

[@watchsymposium]

@@ALLinHerMovements Fat Ladies are legendary, so I'm not surprised. I'm sure you know this, but they were the first GMT to have the Coke color configuration, and were only ever made as Cokes. Very historically significant pieces.

[@ALLinHerMovements]

@@watchsymposium So I have discovered! I picked up a 116710LN to add to my BLNR while I wait for a Pepsi from the AD (may take a few years, sadly). So in the meantime, I’ve decided I am definitely collecting GMTs and I must round out my collection with something less modern, more significant. So it’s between the Fat Lady and a 70s 1675. I will let you know which I pick up.

[@williambowden4192]

DHL is running from Japan to Australia just fine, not sure about the states!

[@m3tek44]

All depends on his collection but I would go with GMT.

[@beboss5599]

I have a 16710 coke Y serial with the fat font serifs.. I believe it’s a early Y. Early 2003

[@londonman8688]

GMT mater 1 is the one to get

[@MrEverblazin]

Hi Austin. Thank you for sharing all this in-depth information. I am about to pull the trigger on a 16700 L-serial from 1989. It appears to have a closed 6 & 9 in the date wheel and the pepsi bezel insert is a bit strange as the single "2" only at 2 o'clock is sans serif whereas all the other "2"'s are serif. I am very confused as I have not seen it before and could not find any information on the rolex forum. Is this an honest mistake by Rolex? Hard to imagine! Any advise you could give me?

[@watchsymposium]

Just sent you an email. Not sure about the date wheel. That's a great indicator, I imagine, but I've never learned much about GMT date wheels.

[@mrp9498]

Austin dropping the Fat Lady knowledge bombs.

[@gray_mattr]

Really enjoyed this deep dive. ...Speaking of diving, how about one on the Submariners?

[@LoLreality1]

Both . It’s a collection so collect

[@ramongonzalez3073]

Like your videos

[@mohnnadmercedes8246]

I lost my hopes were these now trading over 12k even for balck bezel 😿😭💔

[@yuenlee541]

@Austin! Subtitles in Spanish please

[@terrydaigle8356]

Sold my rolex gmt worthless function just do a little new math

[@chiguyxi8992]

16710

[@bernardmauge8613]

what is a font and a sans serif??????? you lost me.

[@asifgoldmine228]

handsome

[@theestimator]

This is starting to get silly .....