30 days with my Rolex GMT 116710 Master llc

[cabphoto]

Hello All-

So It has been 30 days now with my new to me GMT llc. I had worn a 2000 Sub from new until 08 when I was unfortunately forced to sell it. Since that time I vowed to attain another Rolex when finances permitted. I was always impressed with the beauty and quality of my Rolex and was astonished when I went to sell it and realized how it held its value. In 2000 I paid 5k for my sub brand new and was offered $4200 cash with no haggling in 2008 from a watch store in LA where I live. It shocked me as I know nothing else on earth that holds it's value that way other than gold. For the last year or so I found myself crawling back out of the recession and in a position to replace my Sub. I was very drawn to both Vintage Subs and GMT's and of course poured over their images everyday. So my question was new or Vintage? Sub or GMT?

About me; I am a photographer, 35, living in Los Angeles. I travel for work less than I would like and sometimes my work includes diving. My job is very physical. I work with lots of heavy equipment that takes me from studio one day to the beach the next. It can be glamorous at times and down right hard labor at others. So you can imagine that a fine sports watch suits me very well.

I had considered some other brands as I had owned an IWC flieger chronograph 3706 as well as anonimo militare chronograph 2007, I was very happy with the IWC and less than impressed with the Anonimo but I viewed that purchase as an impulse buy anyhow and would not ever consider that brand again.

The timelessness and reputation of the Rolex brand coupled with it's overall aesthetic is very hard to match at a SS Sports watch price point. If you figure in the way they hold their value over time I just don't think there is any question as to the correct choice for me, though I don't intend to ever sell as I gain in years a little I have learned that things and circumstances as well as markets do change.

As I began my search I figured very much on buying vintage. I salivated at Guit dials and my heart beat uncontrollably when I came across a bezel insert with the perfectly faded patina. I was seeing Bakelite bezels in my sleep. I found so many "good deals" which I some how was blessed to realize too good to be true. Who do you trust when even Christie's photoshops their catalog images of dials on vintage watches? Stories of John Mayer needing to sue his long time trusted dealer over Franken watches. I needed to rethink my approach and take in account the facts.

My budget was 8k at a stretch and I wasn't into financing anything or even putting it on a card for that matter. This was going to be my daily wear and my only watch. The vintage pieces I inspected at vintage boutiques (all non AD's now) seemed fragile and not water resistant any longer or at least at your own risk. God forbid I jump in the pool without remembering to take it off. I realized something important. I'm not a watch collector nor do I have the budget to be one. Maybe someday that will change but for now I need my daily companion. There are many a fine vintage timepiece I would like to have and I'm sure vintage dealers to be trusted but I had my budget to stick to and the last thing I wanted to be doing was worrying about my watch getting scratched, broken or wet.

So deciding on a new model felt very liberating and seemed a weight had been lifted as I knew I would not need to be worried about it's durability while at work. I looked at new Subs and GMT's. I liked the black GMT over the Black and Blue. In my opinion color is not really for a daily wear and becomes distracting. I liked the bracelet on the sub very much though the GMT's was still a huge advance in quality since my 2000 sub. Though I do dive and may dive with my Rolex I would probably not in all practical purposes use it as a dive tool as a certified diver is trained to use other instruments while diving. As for the water resistance, the GMT's 330 feet far exceeds the depth of any dive myself or any other humans I know may be embarking on in the near future. The sub also seemed a bit more bulky and the trend in big watches is way over. 40mm IS a big watch folks. I realize the Sub c is 40 but it's bulkier and a bit more common than I would like. I do like the sub very much though.

So I decided on the GMT llc it had all I needed in the sub plus the bonus of a third function in the dual timzones but to my surprise the price of a new Rolex had doubled since I last purchased my new Sub in 2000. The separation of the classes is close at hand I gather. I started looking around and found a 2007 GMT llc at Wanna Buy A Watch on Melrose in Los Angeles and it seemed to be virtually unworn and unpolished. The bracelet was very tight feeling in its joints, absolutely zero sag and even a reluctance to bend between the links leading me to further believe it really had not seen much wear. Some of the plastic protective adhesive was still on it in a couple of places. Could this have been put on in a service? Do they do that, or was this really from new? I'm not an expert but it seemed to impress me as the newest 2007 GMT I was gonna find for the price which was pretty much the lowest I had seen for this model and so a cash deal was struck.

I wanted to wait 30 days to report to you on my feelings about my purchase. First I will report on the time keeping of this piece. It was wound and set by the dealer at my time of purchase and I found it had been set to exactly 1 second fast according to my iphone. I checked when I got to the car as I figured I would need to do the initial setting of the watch. Every day for the last 30 days I have checked the accuracy against my iphone and it has gained exactly 13 seconds in 30 days as it is currently 14 seconds fast. I have worn it everyday taking it off at night for sleep. I'm pretty sure that for an automatic movement this is very accurate time keeping. Please correct me if I am mistaken. I will continue to let it be fast and see how long it takes to become 60 sec. fast at which time I will reset.

Aesthetically I have been very pleased at what I have found. As a photographer I find I am very particular about appearance and have an obsessive ability for close scrutiny about all things visual. I look at the watch throughout the day as the light changes and in many different scenarios be it the diffused light in a car or even the light from my computer monitor in a dark room and I have found so many different pleasing personalities in the design of the GMT llc. I can see the obvious heritage but advance in materials. I notice hints of vintage GMT's that seem the designer was trying to reference that I don't think are there in the ref. prior to the llc. I also see some reference to the transition some other watch manufactures made when the 70's began. I notice this in the wider shoulders of the case which some have scrutinized but I imagine was possibly intentional on the designers part as the recognition of that period of design is becoming more appreciated this is even more apparent in the shoulders of the Sub c. Rolex like Porsche has changed in design very slowly over time and for very good reason.

As you can probably tell I am very pleased and wanted to share my findings and opinions with you. I have probably been a bit indulgent and long winded but I am very happy with my purchase. I wanted so much to not have any regrets and not be disappointed that I didn't go vintage. I made the right choice for me.

I think vintage Rolex is cool partially because it has made such a long journey and with it one can imagine a different time as well as being a thing of beauty. Most of the vintage pieces I was considering have been on this earth twice as long as I have myself. This is my Rolex from my time for my journey and it will one day be vintage and have stories to tell as well. I hope that one day I will be a collector but I had to start somewhere and I am exceedingly happy with my choice. I am also very pleased to have been welcomed so warmly to this forum. Everyone here seems to be absolutely civilized and kind to one another, something not common on any other type of web forum. I will try not to write so much in the future but this was a bit of an intro for me as well as one of my first posts. When I get around to it I will take some photos that are a bit more professional but didn't want to throw up a post this long without at least a couple of photos. Thank you!

Christopher Beyer


https://www.flickr.com/photos/548521...n/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/548521...n/photostream/

[thomaspp]

Cool! Enjoy it!!

[judson]

Good thoughts.

[bearone2]

good assessment, intro & welcome to the forum.

i've had the new 116713ln 12 days, an early birthday present to myself.

it replaced a 167533 gmt master that i bought new & wore for 31 years.

it was a slick upgrade to a beautiful watch.

[ingoodtime]

Love my GMTIIC. I have had it for about 5_6 years and it is my daily wear watch. Mostly no one comments on it was it is somewhat under the radar. I have only had a few comments on it. Recently, my haircutter begged me to sell it. Of course I declined.

[iazrollie]

Congrats. Very comprehensive account.

[14060m]

Good post thanks for sharing
I'm glad you got exactly what you wanted

[sea-dweller]

Thanks for sharing!

[Urosfan]

Nice post

[T. Ferguson]

You've got to be kidding. No pics?

Welcome to TRF. And yes, your watch is very accurate.

[Hairdude1]

[Bangel]

I thoroughly enjoyed your post. Congrats on the GMT.

You came to the same conclusion as I did as I was reading.

You have gone the vintage route, you're just ahead of your time.

[rainbowmax]

Welcome to TRF. Very nice post!

[Racerdj]

Nice write up. Enjoy it.

[sheldonsmith]

Great post. Looking forward to seeing some Picts.

[HL65]

Welcome to TRF and glad you are enjoying it!

[jhcam8]

[watchwatcher]

Agree, one of the best sports watches out there. Also enjoyed your photo album...nice.

[phils]

Nice writeup.
I think the retail price of the 16610 Sub. in 2000 was about $3200.
Was it an A series with luminova?
Do you wear the GMTII while diving?

[GradyPhilpott]

[Landshark33]

Congrats and great watch, although I wouldn't say the trend in big watches is way over.

[DCgator]

Nice wrap up. You have a great watch. AOBTW your photos are fantastic!!!

[herbalt]

Great read, thanks. Interesting perspective on the vintage design cues in the IIC.

[herbalt]

Did you brush the links yourself?