Rolex GMT Master II 16710 Full Set Coke

The Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 16710 represents one of the most versatile and historically interesting generations of the GMT-Master family. Produced throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, the 16710 retained the essential architecture of the classic GMT while introducing the practical advantages of the independent 24-hour hand, allowing the wearer to read a second time zone without sacrificing the traditional GMT-Master aesthetic.

Within the long production run of the 16710, collectors often pay particular attention to transitional details. Among the most desirable is the “Swiss Only” dial, a relatively short-lived configuration found during the transition between earlier T Swiss T < 25 dials and the later Swiss Made signatures. Its discreet printing at 6 o’clock gives these watches a distinctive place within the evolution of the GMT-Master II.

This example dates to 1999, with a U serial, and features the sought-after Swiss Only dial with its characteristic white-gold hour-marker surrounds, commonly referred to by collectors as the “bicchierini” configuration. The contrast between the black dial, luminova luminous plots and applied surrounds gives the watch the unmistakable late-1990s 16710 appearance.

The watch is fitted with the original black and red “Coke” bezel insert, now naturally faded to a particularly attractive light pink and burgundy tone. This type of ageing is one of the details that can make a vintage Rolex considerably more personal: rather than simply reproducing the appearance of a new watch, the bezel records decades of exposure and use, developing a colour combination that cannot be replicated by a modern replacement insert.

For collectors, the appeal of a 16710 is therefore not limited to its reference number. Serial range, dial configuration, bezel insert and the degree of originality all become part of the watch's identity. The combination found here — U-series production, Swiss Only dial, original-style Coke insert with attractive fading and the classic applied-marker configuration — places this example firmly within the collector-oriented side of the 16710 market.

Adding further substance to the package, the watch is accompanied by its original Rolex box, warranty documentation and serial-matching tag, making it a particularly complete example for a collector looking beyond the watch itself and interested in preserving the historical context in which it was originally delivered.

The GMT-Master II 16710 remains one of the last neo-vintage Rolex references where relatively small production details can substantially change the character and desirability of an individual watch. This is precisely what makes the reference so rewarding to collect: two apparently similar 16710s can tell very different stories once their dials, bezels, serials and original accessories are examined closely.