THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 16700
YEAR: 1995
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

In 1983, Rolex released the first GMT-Master II, reference 16760, powered by the Caliber 3085. This new movement allowed the hour hand to be adjusted independently, enabling the tracking of an additional time zone. However, this did not mark the end of the original GMT-Master lineage, which had begun in 1954 with reference 6542. In fact, Rolex introduced another GMT-Master model, reference 16700, five years later in 1988.

The 16700 brought with it several updates that came to define the “neo-vintage GMT” aesthetic: the new case design later shared with the 16710 (whereas the 16760 had used a thicker Sea-Dweller-style case), and glossy black dials with white-gold surrounds. Somewhat confusingly, the 16700 was fitted with the Caliber 3175—a movement not used in any other Rolex reference—which lacked the independently adjustable hour hand, despite being introduced after the GMT-Master II.