Rolex GMT Master Watch 1999

[Showcall]

Hi all what are your general views on GMT"s I want to by one for my Dad, he is not into Bling so I was looking at a nice 1999 stainless model. Any Pitfalls or trap for young players when purchasing a GMT?

[polarinda]

Pepsi.

[Showcall]

Pepsi being the pitfall? I can imagine that red and blue dial would annoy my old man. straight black dial for him

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Showcall

Hi all what are your general views on GMT"s I want to by one for my Dad, he is not into Bling so I was looking at a nice 1999 stainless model. Any Pitfalls or trap for young players when purchasing a GMT?

Well basically the 16710 GMT has changed very little since its introduction in 1988 till in was discontinued.Now around 1998 they changed from Tritium lume to Luminover lume with just Swiss at the bottom of the dial.The movement cal 3185 is very accurate and long lasting,now if the watch has no service history.Then it would be wise to budget a full RSC service after service you will have a two year warranty on the watch and it will be almost as good as new.The bezel inserts are quite easy to change and 3 different inserts are available black, blue/red, and black/red, cost around $55 each.

[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well basically the 16710 GMT has changed very little since its introduction in 1988 till in was discontinued.Now around 1998 they changed from Tritium lume to Luminover lume with just Swiss at the bottom of the dial.The movement cal 3185 is very accurate and long lasting,now if the watch has no service history.Then it would be wise to budget a full RSC service after service you will have a two year warranty on the watch and it will be almost as good as new.The bezel inserts are quite easy to change and 3 different inserts are available black, blue/red, and black/red, cost around $55 each.

Peter, you said "just Swiss" at the bottom of the dial circa 1998. I've seen on more then a few GMT production watches up until 2004 that say "Swiss Made." My serial # starts with an "R" I believe, and was purchased in 2001.

Can you clarify this please. Could these have been NOS from 1998 or earlier ?
Thanks

[cop414]

As stated above, no real pitfalls. Buy the seller then the watch, check for service history and if none keep that in mind with your purchase price. If it doesn't need a service have it pressure tested and enjoy the feeling of giving it to your Pop.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by JAGERVEGAS

Peter, you said "just Swiss" at the bottom of the dial circa 1998. I've seen on more then a few GMT production watches up until 2004 that say "Swiss Made." My serial # starts with an "R" I believe, and was purchased in 2001.

Can you clarify this please. Could these have been NOS from 1998 or earlier ?
Thanks

Yes the word Swiss was only used for a short time when the change was made from Tritium to luminover.It was only a short period from around 1998 till around 2000 after that they changed to Swiss Made till present time.But around the change time frame 1998/9 some dials still had the Tritium mark on bottom of dial but markers and hands were Luminover just Rolex using up the old dials.

[azguy]

If the 24hrs hand function is appropriate for him...ie travels... it's a great choice. Otherwise I would go with a 16610 sub

[Billywiz]

A superb choice...just check feedback on seller and if ebay buy through paypal and have it checked on delivery and you have great protection.

[Showcall]

Thanks everyone, sound advice the only thing that I have to do now is find a suitable "velcro" band, Apparently its not uncommon for people who scale the mast to slip and skin there entire arm as they slide down the mast!

[rob]

http://www.watchtime.com/blog/fratel...aster-watches/

[azguy]

Originally Posted by Showcall

Thanks everyone, sound advice the only thing that I have to do now is find a suitable "velcro" band, Apparently its not uncommon for people who scale the mast to slip and skin there entire arm as they slide down the mast!

[Billywiz]

Originally Posted by azguy

...I guess there is some logic here....Possibly...

[Showcall]

Yes,
You see the metal band will not break. A leather or Velcro will. Its the same reason they wont wear rings, you slide down a metal mast in rough sea's you have to grab the mast.
I had a work mate hanging from a truss 5ft in the air by he's wedding ring!

[jdm124]

Take a look at the Explorer II which I understand has the same movement as the GMT. I have both with black dial and much prefer the ExpII

[Showcall]

Does your watch slide down?
I just wrote a message to Titix regarding the Citizen Black Eagle that Taro was so kind enough to let me steal from him

Okay here's the deal: I love the watch, I love the look and the functions and dig the tech appearance, plus the quality that it exudes. Sure it needs a second-hand adjustment but that's pretty minor, really.

Why I don't wear it much: well the dang thing slides down pretty easily. We've talked in the past about "how tight do you wear your watch strap?" and some people like 'em loose, some people like 'em clamped on hard. Personally I want a snug fit, but don't like the skin indentation that happens from the strap being too tight.

As for being too loose: well my dad told me a story about a work crew that was going to a job site in the bed of a pickup. They got to the site, so they all jumped out, and the one guy jumped out over the side. Unfortunately for him there was a pole or something sticking out of the bed pocket where he jumped out, and as it so happened the pole got caught inside his watch bracelet. Being a very strong metal bracelet it didn't break, and so he wound up hanging his full body weight off his watch bracelet and I guess he got cut up pretty good & hollered pretty loudly as well. Anyway his day was done, had to spend some time at the hospital that day so the story goes. I think they never saw him on the job site again either...

But anyways, I don't prefer loose straps -- seems too dangerous. Plus I don't like loose floppy dangly things hanging off me. Like neckties. Or interfering with my wrist motion. I don't like it!

[skprd13]

Your Dad will be stoked! Great son!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Showcall

Yes,
You see the metal band will not break. A leather or Velcro will. Its the same reason they wont wear rings, you slide down a metal mast in rough sea's you have to grab the mast.
I had a work mate hanging from a truss 5ft in the air by he's wedding ring!

Yes I had a bit of a situation wearing my Rolex SD it was around 2000. I remember I surfaced just off the reef in open water and we were swimming back to the zodiac pick up boat and I released most of the buckles on my BC.Next thing I new was kind Egyptian ripping my BC off and before I re-leashed all the buckles,and was very lucky did not loose my video camera as well.The SD bracelet caught in one of the buckles and the bracelet pin or lug pin must have failed.But suppose they are not designed to have nearly 15 stone hanging from them.But thankfully the pin did fail, I lost a SD to the Red Sea abyss, watch was easily replaced but body parts are not HiHi.

[Showcall]

Originally Posted by skprd13

Your Dad will be stoked! Great son!

Arrive Today!

[Showcall]

Came in Today-Cheers for the info

[cop414]

Congratulations, your Dad will love it!