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Rolex 16700 vs 16710: Which GMT Master II Is Right for You?
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Rolex is easily the most well-known watch brand on the planet. It has legions of devoted fans, and many horology buffs dream of owning one. With a long history that dates back more than a century and a variety of collections ranging from classic dress watches to divers to chronographs in stylish colorways, there are plenty of Rolexes to choose from.
Like any luxury brand, Rolex also makes excellent GMT watches. Originally designed for pilots of PanAm in the 1950s, these watches helped usher in the jet age by allowing wearers to track more than one time zone. A useful function for world travelers as well as aviators, Rolex continued to evolve these beautiful tool watches from the GMT Master to the GMT Master II collections.
Today, those seeking one of Rolex’s classic fine timepieces can choose between the Rolex GMT Master 16700 and the GMT Master II 16710. Which is right for you? Let’s take a closer look at these two luxury watches.
The Rolex GMT Master 16700
The Rolex GMT Master Ref. 16700 is the older of these two timepieces. In production from 1988-99, the 16700 is the culmination of the GMT Master series that started in 1955. Jet-powered aircraft and international business made the world a smaller place.
A watch that could track multiple time zones was useful to pilots and travelers as well as anyone who worked or did business with others across the globe.
The Rolex GMT Master 16700 is powered by the brand’s caliber 3175 automatic movement. It has a non-independent GMT hand with a date complication and a hacking function. It’s COSC-certified and has a 48-hour power reserve.
The case is stainless steel and 40 mm in diameter. With a screw-down crown, this watch is water resistant to 100 meters, a good number for a non-diver.
With a black dial and Rolex’s classic handset, consisting of a sword minute hand and the Mercedes hour hand, it’s easy to read, as all of the brand’s watches are. It also has a red arrow GMT hand and a needle second hand. Early models used a tritium lume, while the later ones have Luminova.
The bi-directional 24-hour bezel has an aluminum insert and was available in either two-tone red and blue, called the Pepsi, or all black. You have the option of a bold or subtle dial and bezel combination.
The key feature of the 16700 is its ability to track two time zones. The hour hand goes around the dial once every 12 hours, as is standard, while the GMT hand makes one circuit every 24 hours. The two hands are tied together and cannot be set independently.
The GMT hand essentially displays military time. So, for example, at 9 am, the hour hand will point to the baton at nine on the dial, while the GMT hand points to the nine on the bezel. At 9 pm, the hour hand again points to the baton at nine, but the GMT hand will point to the 21 on the bezel.
The way to track an extra time zone is to turn the bezel so the correct time in the zone you desire is lined up with the GMT hand. All you have to do is read the hand the corresponds to the time zone you are monitoring.
Although the 16700 can only track two time zones, a nice feature is the quick set date, which comes in handy at the end of the shorter months, especially February.
The GMT Master 16700 comes on either a stainless steel Oyster or Jubilee bracelet, both of which pair nicely with the case.
This timepiece was one of Rolex’s best sellers until it was phased out in 1999 in favor of the GMT Master II 16710. You can still get one on the used market, and they remain popular with horology fans.
The Rolex GMT Master II 16710
In 1989, Rolex upped its game with the release of the GMT Master II 16710. It offered the ability to track three time zones as well as a new movement and an additional colorway. Production of this update GMT watch ran until 2007, and it was a hit and is still popular on the preowned market.
The early 16710 models were powered by the caliber 3185 movement, with the later ones upgraded to the caliber 3186.
Both movements offer a slightly upgraded power reserve of 50 hours and are COSC-certified. Both movements have a date complication, a hacking function, and a quick set GMT hand. The stainless steel case comes in the same 40 mm size as the 16700 and has a screw-down crown and 100 meters of water resistance.
Like the 16700, the 16710 has a black dial and the same classic Rolex handset, including the red arrow GMT hand. Up until 1997, the 16710 used a tritium lume and switched to Luminova in 1998 and 1999. For the rest of its run, this watch used Superluminova.
The bi-directional bezel is made from anodized aluminum and is a 120-click bezel. In addition to the red and blue Pepsi and all black bezels, Rolex added a third option. A red and black bezel, which came to be known as the Coke, offers a compromise between the subtle all black and the bold Pepsi.
The main additional feature of the 16710 is that it can track three time zones. The hour hand travels around the dial once in 12 hours and the GMT hand once in 24 hours, just like the older 16700. However, each hand can be set separately.
This allows the user to track one time zone with the hour hand and a second with the GMT. By adjusting the bezel to a third time zone, you’ve got a triple-threat GMT. There is no quick-set date adjustment, but it’s a small price to pay for the extra time zone tracking.
The 16710 comes on a stainless Oyster or Jubilee bracelet with an Oysterlock clasp. This clasp is more secure than the one that precedes it, and the steel has a greater chromium content. This makes it more corrosion-resistant, offering further protection from water.
Rolex still makes GMT Master II watches, but the 16710 is out of production and only available as a pre-owned option. It nevertheless is still a popular choice for Rolex collectors.
Rolex GMT Master II 16700 vs 16710 – How to Choose
So, we have two very fine watches in the GMT Master 16700 and the GMT Master II 16710. If you’re looking for a classic Rolex, how do you choose? This depends on the features you need and desire and also the look you prefer.
Starting with aesthetics, if you have your heart set on the Coke color scheme, you will have to go with the 16710, since the 16700 only has the all black and the Pepsi. In these two colorways, the timepieces look virtually identical, and most people would be hard-pressed to tell them apart.
With its stainless bezel and aluminum insert, the 16700 has a slightly vintage look. If that’s important to you, take it into consideration. The anodized aluminum bezel of the 16710 has a subtly slicker look. You have to look very closely to see this, but it does matter to some watch collectors.
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The major difference between these two classic watches is, of course, the ability to track two vs. three time zones. For many people, two is sufficient for their needs.
When you add in the convenience of the quick-set date, the 16700 is a good choice. Not everyone needs to track three time zones, but if, say, you work in the New York office of an international company that has branches in London and LA, you may find the added time zone useful.
The dials and handsets are identical, but there is the question of lume. If you are a tritium fan, there are far more 16700s out there with that option. The 16710 only used tritium briefly. You should have no trouble finding either of these watches with Luminova, but if you prefer Superluminova, you’ve got to go with the 16710.
In terms of movements, the 16710 is available with the updated 3185 or 3186. However, the 3175 of the 16700 is every bit as accurate and reliable, so this is really just a matter of an additional two hours of power reserve. Both watches are available with either the Oyster or Jubilee bracelet, but if you are a fan of the Oysterlock clasp, that points you to the 16710.
Conclusion
Throughout its long history, Rolex has produced a large number of classic watches that are stylish, reliable, and accurate. The GMT Master series watches are among the best timepieces of that type on the market.
Two of the most popular among horology connoisseurs are the GMT Master 16700 and the GMT Master II 16710. If you like the look of these timepieces, consider what options are most important to you, and search the pre-owned market for the one that floats your boat.
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