Original Bezel Insert on this 16700 from 1996?

[Austin in Japan]

Can anyone tell me if this is an original insert on this 1996 16700?

If it was a 16710, I'd expect it to have a fat font serif insert, but were 16700's from the 1990's different?

Thanks in advance for any help, and the more details the better!

[TuRo]

Hi Austin (Tritium predicting/loving) Paul here.

I'll leave others to comment on insert. If you are buying might be worth checking it's not a Tritinova dial like this one as hands and HR markers are very white.

https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/juiu

I don't think it is though, as font different - worth checking under LED/UV perhaps.

[Austin in Japan]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your message. According to the seller, it's tritium dial and hands, but it is quite white. They specify that it checks out under UV light.

But what's really interesting is how different the font on the dial is, compared to the one you linked to. I much prefer the dial style of the latter with those pronounced serifs and thicker text!

[springer]

Based on my experience with the GMT and GMT II, the bezel insert on your 1996 GMT preceded the serif "fat font" insert. The serif insert replaced the thinner non serif GMT insert (which is the insert depicted on your GMT) sometime during the mid 1990s. I do not care to give an exact year for the transition between the two variations of inserts because nobody knows for sure when this occurred and there is definitely an overlap in the years the two inserts were used on the GMTs.

The inserts were the same - whether it is on a GMT 16700 or a GMT 16710 during this era. Later, sometime during the later part of the 1990s, the fonts changed on the inserts to what I refer to as the "snowman" insert. This insert, when looking at the 8s, have a smaller top portion (the head) when compared to the bottom portion (the belly) of the 8. Also, the open area of the 4 comes to a point on the inside of the 4 while on the earlier inserts, the top is flat. The snowman insert was used until the end of the GMT II 16710 production and was also used as a service replacement insert on the sapphire models.

Below are two photos of one of my previous owned 1996 GMT 16700s with a "T" serial number which has the non serif insert. I also included one photo of what I refer to as the "snowman" insert.

Enjoy your watch.

[Austin in Japan]

Thanks Springer, that's very helpful!

[karleone]

A 96 16700/16710 should have a serif insert.

[askdanny]

May I add to Austin's post?

A local friend bought a full set unworn 16700 from an estate sale. But the bezel makes me wince and I told him over the phone. It looks like a service bezel because of the "22" not hugging the base of the bezel. It's a 1997. Is it possible to have an unworn 16700 with a bezel like that?

[Filipão]

Originally Posted by askdanny

Is it possible to have an unworn 16700 with a bezel like that?

I'd vote that is an aftermarket insert.

Below is a legit from a U series

[askdanny]

Originally Posted by Filipão

I'd vote that is an aftermarket insert.

Below is a legit from a U series

Thank you for your reply and picture.

[springer]

Here is one of mine from 1996 - which has an insert that preceded the serif insert. The 16700 that askdanny posted has the what appears to be the serif insert. The "snowman" insert from my previous post was used after the serif insert was discontinued and up to the end of production for the 16700/16710 models. The "snowman" insert was also used as a service replacement insert once it was introduced and I believe it is still being used today as a service insert.

[ancientmariner]

Here is my 1988 16700. Cannot say if original insert as only owned 6 years. Rolex services in 2006 and 2016. Insert not mentioned on 2016 service invoice. Looks very similar to Springer’s to my untrained eye.




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[askdanny]

Originally Posted by ancientmariner

Here is my 1988 16700. Cannot say if original insert as only owned 6 years. Rolex services in 2006 and 2016. Insert not mentioned on 2016 service invoice. Looks very similar to Springer’s to my untrained eye.




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What a great shot on the jubilee, Tony! Wow.

[ancientmariner]

Originally Posted by askdanny

What a great shot on the jubilee, Tony! Wow.

[Woody]

Originally Posted by ancientmariner

Here is my 1988 16700. Cannot say if original insert as only owned 6 years. Rolex services in 2006 and 2016. Insert not mentioned on 2016 service invoice. Looks very similar to Springer’s to my untrained eye.




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I believe I also have the same insert on my S-series 16700 (S180...) first sold in 1994. The dial is also quite white but has no remaining luminosity.