Revolution: The Evolution of the Role...

New York, Apr 17, 2008

LOT 126

Ref. 16760 GMT-Master II Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual Date, GMT-Master II, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified?, Ref. 16760. Made circa 1985. Very fine and rare, two-time zone, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with date, special 24-hour bezel and hand, independently adjustable 12-hour hand and a stainless steel Rolex Fliplock Oyster bracelet. Accompanied by a Warranty Certificate (now void) and an instruction booklet.

USD 8,000 - 10,000

EUR 5,400 - 6,700

Sold: USD 13,800

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, graduated bidirectional revolving red and blue bezel for the diurnal and nocturnal hours of the second time zone in 24 hours, crystal with cyclops lens. D. Black with luminous round, baton and triangular steel indexes, outer minute/ seconds divisions, aperture for the date. Luminous steel skeleton hands. M. Cal. 3085, rhodium-plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 27 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and five positions, selfcompensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-7-01

Good

Oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

IIn 1983, Rolex introduced the GMT-Master II, the original version of which bore the reference 16760. The 16760 featured the new caliber 3085 movement, which separated the hour hand from the large triangle 24-hour hand, to provide instantaneous setting of the second time zone on the face of the watch itself. Further, the seconds hand only hacked when the crown was pulled all the way out to the standard time-setting position, while it continued running when merely setting the hour hand to the new destination time. This enabled the GMT-Master II to maintain the legendary Rolex accuracy without interruption while traversing the globe. And now, since home time & local time could be read simultaneously on the face of the watch, the rotating bezel could be used to calculate a third time zone if needed. The watch was also the first GMT to be produced exclusively with a sapphire crystal. The rotating bezel gained a ratcheting action and the bezel insert was only offered in the new color combination of black and red. The 16760 featured an extra-thick case, some .5mm thicker than its predecessor, as well as a thicker bezel and crown guards. This has led to collectors names of ?Fat Lady? and ?Sophia Loren.? Produced only until 1988, the short-run 16760 was replaced by the much longer running ref. 16710.