Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 16700, Stainless Steel with Papers & Tag
Introduced in 1988 and produced until 1999, the Rolex GMT-Master Reference 16700 is the final evolution of the original GMT-Master line. A true transitional model, it bridges the classic aesthetics of the 1675 and 16750 with modern refinements sapphire crystal, quickset date, and the iconic bi-colour "Pepsi" bezel while retaining the original single-timezone GMT mechanism that purists still prefer over the later GMT-Master II. This example, dating to 1999 and accompanied by its original papers and matching hang tag, is one of the most complete and desirable configurations of this reference.
The 16700 occupies a unique and increasingly appreciated position in the GMT-Master family. Produced for just eleven years, it is considerably rarer than the GMT-Master II 16710 that ran alongside it and outlasted it. More importantly, it is the last reference to feature the original GMT complication: a mechanism in which the GMT hand is mechanically linked to the hour hand, requiring the wearer to set the local time by rotating the bezel rather than independently adjusting the hour hand. For many collectors, this is the purist GMT experience, and the 16700 is the most refined version of it ever made.
The presence of the original papers and matching hang tag with a matching serial number is a detail that transforms this watch from a fine example into a fully documented piece. The hang tag, in particular, is one of the most fragile and frequently lost accessories in the Rolex ecosystem, and finding one that matches the serial number of the watch is genuinely uncommon. This is a complete, uncompromised example of one of the most historically significant GMT references Rolex has ever produced.
Key Specifications
Reference
16700
Year
1999
Case
Stainless steel, 40 mm, unpolished, Oyster construction
Bezel
Bidirectional rotating, aluminium insert, blue and red "Pepsi"
Dial
Black, luminous baton indices, 24-hour GMT scale
Crystal
Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
Movement
Automatic, Rolex Caliber 3175, 27 jewels, COSC Chronometer certified
Bracelet
Oyster, stainless steel, blind folding clasp
Accessories
Original Rolex guarantee papers and matching hang tag (full set)
Collector's Note
Why Buy From Us
Rolex
16700
1999
Black
Automatic
40mm
Yes
GMT Master
Steel
Bicchierini
Oyster blind






















