older style GMT II....

[fear]

Questions.

I really like the older style GMT Master II, not the current one.

I went to BB Ala Moana and saw two. I asked to look at them. Well, the sales lady took one out and says that they were new M serials, no hologram.

Here's my question. So Rolex rolex didn't stop production even though the replacements are out? In fact, there were two of the newer GMTs were displayed near the older ones.

So what's the deal? Is this a slow phase-out? Is M serial the last series of the older model? Are both going to be made concurrently?

[Rolex_07]

Would someone be able to tell me the difference between GMT I and GMT II? Also is there such thing as a GMT III?

Thank you in advance

[ji603]

No such thing as a GMT III or a GMT I either, specifically.

Early GMT Masters had a friction-set bezel, acrylic crystal, hollow end link bracelet, clasp style common on rolexes of the 1980's, different mechanism and function of GMT hand/hour hand/date, matte dials, no white gold surrounding hour markers... someone with more knowhow will chime in with the specifics.

GMTIIs transitioned to solid end links and no-holes cases around the Y serial # range, and have a sapphire crystal, different bracelet clasp, 3185 movement, slight styling changes made on the dial, and of course the GMT II vs ll dials.

Rolex makes changes gradually, hence the different fonts on bezel inserts, (Sans seriff most noticeable on the '4's ) a number of dials with ll instead of II and a rumour that a very few of the late M serial GMT II's were made with a 3186 movement.

[JostheBoss]

GMT I and II's main difference is that the GMT II could advance/turn back the hour hand in single 1h increments, allowing for easy adjustment to a new timezone on arrival, without having to stop the movement to reset the watch.

There's no GMT III (Yet!)

[Teofilo]

Interesting......I thought the last of the old style Pepsis were Z series......

[SPACE-DWELLER]

That's interesting! As you state yourself, it must be a slow phase-out.

[Tools]

Did you in fact see that they were both "M" models..

I have been in and had the salesman say the watch was the "latest", but the actual serials were "D"s.

[fear]

"That's interesting! As you state yourself, it must be a slow phase-out."

Thanks Bo!! I thought the sales woman was pulling a fast one on me until she showed me the M serial. Thomas Magnum's watch (well sorta) boy was I tempted to get it

[fear]

"Did you in fact see that they were both "M" models"


Yes Larry. I placed my sub on the mat, she let me try one, and she took the other one out as I was handing the other GMT. Showed me both tags and the clear stickers on the back. I had my iphone but never thought of taking a photo. I wish I did!

"I have been in and had the salesman say the watch was the "latest", but the actual serials were "D"s."


Unless Ben Bridge (this was the one closer to the Apple store which sells only Rolex watches) changed the tags and/or replaced the hologram, maybe it's an earlier series. They could be lying.

So I dunno. Hence my confusion. I always thought that the older version ended when the supercased one came out.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by fear

[I][I]"
Unless Ben Bridge (this was the one closer to the Apple store which sells only Rolex watches) changed the tags and/or replaced the hologram, maybe it's an earlier series. They could be lying.

So I dunno. Hence my confusion. I always thought that the older version ended when the supercased one came out.

No, no, I wasn't saying that....Just that some times a salesman is not as knowledgable as they think they are..

If I saw an "M" 16710, I would buy it..It would be the very last of a breed..

Rolex frequently builds multiple serials simultaneously. None of us knew about the "M"s until they showed up in the market.. It is quite likely that "M"s and "Z"s were/are being built during an overlap until all the older blanks are used up..

If we have an eye witness, such as you, then we can say that 16710's were built into the early "M" series...

and we thank you for that information..

[errolhiggins]

Bought it just a couple of weeks ago, in Southern Calif. I thought it was one of the last of the breed, that's why I went for it. The AD had just one. It was a Coke.

[East Bay Rider]

I got my Z series in October. I believe that Z was the last series before the new GMT IIc came along.

[fear]

"It is quite likely that "M"s and "Z"s were/are being built during an overlap until all the older blanks are used up."


Yeah, you're right. And it's probably the last batch of the older series.

[errolhiggins]

Here it is:

[frostie]

Originally Posted by errolhiggins

Here it is:

That's a really interesting photo. I've never seen an M serial 16710

How come that it doesn't have a chapter ring branding?

[errolhiggins]

I guess that was not extended into the 16710 production even though it is an"M" It came with the new style credit card and no hologram.

[topcat30093]

Originally Posted by frostie

That's a really interesting photo. I've never seen an M serial 16710

How come that it doesn't have a chapter ring branding?

You beat me to it Frostie, I was wondering why it didn't have the CRB

[frostie]

Originally Posted by topcat30093

You beat me to it Frostie, I was wondering why it didn't have the CRB

[Texsubmariner]

Lack of CRB on the 16710 is PROBABLY due to the 116710's coming out and replacing it. By extending that logic, could it then make sense that is why the current M serial SD has no CRB, since it will be updated at Basel?

[0luke1]

I have an M serial Pepsi with no CRB - ordered late last year. It has an instruction book for an 116710!

[Teofilo]

Well you learn something everyday.......so it is possible to get the old style Pepsi/Coke as an M series...........thanks for the info.

[colemanitis]

Originally Posted by Teofilo

Well you learn something everyday.......so it is possible to get the old style Pepsi/Coke as an M series...........thanks for the info.

Yes, they're out there, but probably not the easiest to find.