Rolex GMT-Master II 16710T: A Transitional Classic

Replacing the “Fat Lady”

When the reference 16710 arrived in 1989 it superseded the thick-cased GMT-Master II 16760, trimming the profile while retaining dual-time capability through the new calibre 3185 movement. The slimmer lugs, narrower crown guards and lighter feel made the watch more versatile for everyday wear, yet it still provided the same 100 m water-resistance and 24-hour rotatable bezel needed by professional travellers.  

Engineering the calibre 3185

Rolex’s 28,800 vph calibre 3185 brought an independently adjustable 12-hour hand, allowing local time to “jump” in one-hour increments without stopping the balance. A free-sprung balance with Microstella screws and a Breguet overcoil helped the movement maintain chronometer precision, while the full-balance bridge increased shock resistance. These fundamentals remained unchanged through the entire 16710 run—evidence of just how right the movement was from launch.  

Lume, dials and bezels in the 1990s

Early 16710 dials carried the familiar “Swiss T < 25” legend, indicating tritium luminous paint. By 1999 Rolex phased in LumiNova, changing the signature to a single “Swiss.” A year later Super-LumiNova arrived, and from 2001 dials read “Swiss Made.”  

From the outset Rolex offered three bezel inserts: red/blue “Pepsi,” red/black “Coke,” and solid black. The final letter of the case reference—A, B or N—told the factory which insert to fit, making the 16710 the first GMT-Master II to provide a choice of colours straight from the retailer.  

Millennium refinements: solid end links

Around 2000 the Oyster bracelet (reference 78790) gained solid end links, improving rigidity and giving the case–bracelet junction a cleaner, more substantial appearance. The update also tightened the tolerances between end link and case flank, reducing the chance of debris entering the gap—a small but useful quality-of-life improvement voiced by globe-trotters who wore the watch daily.  

Enter the 16710T: the no-holes era

In late 2003 Rolex deleted the through-lugs spring-bar holes, resulting in the revised designation “16710T.” The “T” does not stand for tritium—by this point the lume was already Super-LumiNova—but simply distinguishes the no-holes case. The switch brought smoother case flanks and a marginally more contemporary look while preserving the classic 40 mm silhouette. Production of the lug-hole case continued only briefly alongside the 16710T before being phased out entirely.  

Other small late-series tweaks

Rolex added a laser-etched coronet in the sapphire crystal at six o’clock from 2003, an anti-counterfeit measure seen across the professional range. The clasp received a machined Oysterlock safety catch, and the bracelet’s flip-lock gained a thicker pivot sheet for better durability under frequent use.  

Calibre 3186: the quiet upgrade

Towards the end of 2007 a handful of Z-series and all M-series examples left Geneva with the updated calibre 3186. This movement introduced Rolex’s in-house Parachrom hairspring, offering better resistance to temperature variation and magnetism. Externally the watches were identical; only a subtly different hand stack and smoother hour-hand jump betray the newer calibre.  

Wearing experience

Despite its 40 mm diameter, the GMT-Master II sits flat at just 12 mm thick, with a lug-to-lug span under 47 mm. Combined with the five-link Jubilee or three-link Oyster bracelet, the watch feels balanced on wrists of most sizes—something owners notice quickly on long-haul flights or daily commuting alike. The bidirectional bezel, with its anodised aluminium insert, is light to turn and avoids the frontal heft of modern ceramic rings. Meanwhile the independent hour-hand adjustment remains one of the simplest ways to track a second zone without sacrificing accuracy.  

Functionality on the move

The 24-hour GMT hand completes one rotation per day, pointing to the bezel numerals for home time. Travellers set the bezel so the triangle aligns with the minute hand at their destination, then “jump” the main hour hand upon landing. Because the minute and seconds hands stay locked to home time, no re-synchronisation is required. It is this frictionless usability—first devised for Pan-Am pilots in the 1950s—that keeps the GMT-Master concept relevant 70 years later.  

Dial and bezel variations in detail

Pepsi

Red and blue remain the archetype, echoing Pan-Am’s livery and plainly separating daylight (red) from darkness (blue).

Coke

Introduced with the earlier reference 16760, the red/black insert transferred to the 16710 unchanged. The combination suited the thinner case, giving the watch a sportier, slightly understated presence.

All-black

For travellers who preferred discretion in business settings the black insert hid scratches better and kept the palette monochrome.

Across all colours, aluminium fades attractively with UV exposure and cleaning chemicals, creating character without harming functionality—something a modern Cerachrome insert cannot replicate.

The 16710T in context

Although Rolex replaced the 16710 series with the ceramic-bezel 116710 in 2007, many enthusiasts still regard the 16710T as the last “classic” GMT-Master II. It combines vintage cues—aluminium bezel, tapering lugs, stamped clasp—with practical improvements such as solid end links, sapphire crystal and modern lume. The no-holes case also mirrors the aesthetic direction Rolex would take across the professional line, making the 16710T a bridge between eras without abandoning the proportions set in the 1950s.

Final thoughts

The Rolex GMT-Master II 16710T distils half a century of travel-watch design into a robust, 40 mm package. By adding solid end links, a no-holes case and (in its twilight) the Parachrom-equipped calibre 3186, Rolex refreshed the GMT’s technical foundations while leaving its intuitive dual-time layout untouched. The result is a watch that feels equally at home over the Atlantic or on the daily commute—a pragmatic tool that wears its lineage lightly, yet unmistakably.

Case in excellent condition. Sharp even lugs. No signs of wear.Bracelet in excellent condition.

Dial and hands are flawless.