Reference:16760 - Revision history

Admin: Resize hero: 340px -> 250px

2026-04-30T04:21:39Z

Resize hero: 340px -> 250px

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:21, 30 April 2026
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	<span id="core-facts"></span>		<span id="core-facts"></span>

	[[File:Ref 16760 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|~~340px~~\|alt=Fat Lady GMT-Master II\|Fat Lady GMT-Master II]]		[[File:Ref 16760 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Fat Lady GMT-Master II\|Fat Lady GMT-Master II]]

	== Core facts ==		== Core facts ==

Admin: Audit: strip project-memo register (Capture as, pending corroboration, awaiting source confirmation, Treat as) — reader-facing rephrase

2026-04-29T23:26:41Z

Audit: strip project-memo register (Capture as, pending corroboration, awaiting source confirmation, Treat as) — reader-facing rephrase

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:26, 29 April 2026
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	The 3085 ran in the Explorer II 16550 and the GMT-Master II 16760 only. Production span of the movement itself: 1983 to 1989. The 3185 replaced it on the 16710 with a slimmer profile and quick-set date restored.		The 3085 ran in the Explorer II 16550 and the GMT-Master II 16760 only. Production span of the movement itself: 1983 to 1989. The 3185 replaced it on the 16710 with a slimmer profile and quick-set date restored.

	A small contradiction surfaces in the 3085-vs-3185 service-replacement question. Some service-period reads claim late-fitment 3185 in some 16760 cases, but every consulted auction catalog (Phillips Geneva X, Sotheby's HK, Bonhams Knightsbridge, both Christie's online lots) describes a 3085 in the 16760, including 1988-dated examples. The most likely reading is that Bernard's brief conflates Rolex's service-era movement swaps with original fitment — 3185 swaps appear when an entire movement is replaced at service, not as factory variation. ~~Capture as ''disputed'' pending primary archive confirmation~~.		A small contradiction surfaces in the 3085-vs-3185 service-replacement question. Some service-period reads claim late-fitment 3185 in some 16760 cases, but every consulted auction catalog (Phillips Geneva X, Sotheby's HK, Bonhams Knightsbridge, both Christie's online lots) describes a 3085 in the 16760, including 1988-dated examples. The most likely reading is that Bernard's brief conflates Rolex's service-era movement swaps with original fitment — 3185 swaps appear when an entire movement is replaced at service, not as factory variation. the question is unresolved.

	<span id="dial-map"></span>		<span id="dial-map"></span>

Admin: Audit: strip banned dealer names from prose lists per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5

2026-04-29T22:47:54Z

Audit: strip banned dealer names from prose lists per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5

Admin: Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

2026-04-29T20:53:25Z

Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

Admin: Slop Cop scrub: strip represents/serves as/stands as/constitutes/encompasses, establishes, reflects, fundamentally, completely different/distinct, pivotal, robust, essentially, AI section-title patterns + transitional connectives. Per CLAUDE.md WRITING_STYLE.md banlist + user feedback on AI cadence.

2026-04-29T16:42:12Z

Slop Cop scrub: strip represents/serves as/stands as/constitutes/encompasses, establishes, reflects, fundamentally, completely different/distinct, pivotal, robust, essentially, AI section-title patterns + transitional connectives. Per CLAUDE.md WRITING_STYLE.md banlist + user feedback on AI cadence.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:42, 29 April 2026
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	[[File:Ref 16760 coke-bobs.webp\|thumb\|right\|280px\|alt=Coke 16760\|Coke 16760]]		[[File:Ref 16760 coke-bobs.webp\|thumb\|right\|280px\|alt=Coke 16760\|Coke 16760]]

	Two consistent threads across the surveyed corpus. The 16760 was always fitted with a glossy lacquer dial with applied white-gold-surround indices from launch — Specialist registries are explicit, and no matte 16760 dial is recognized as factory. The rolexforums "Matte Dial on a 16760?" thread ~~reflects~~ collector skepticism toward any matte example. Mark distinctions for the 16760 are weaker than for earlier GMT references; most sources collapse to "Mark 1 / spider" vs "later glossy intact."		Two consistent threads across the surveyed corpus. The 16760 was always fitted with a glossy lacquer dial with applied white-gold-surround indices from launch — Specialist registries are explicit, and no matte 16760 dial is recognized as factory. The rolexforums "Matte Dial on a 16760?" thread shows collector skepticism toward any matte example. Mark distinctions for the 16760 are weaker than for earlier GMT references; most sources collapse to "Mark 1 / spider" vs "later glossy intact."

	<span id="standard-glossy-dial"></span>		<span id="standard-glossy-dial"></span>

Admin: Strip auction prices/hammer wording from intros and prose body per CLAUDE.md hard rule #10 + user feedback. Auction record stays in dedicated section. Replace "hammered at"→"sold for" / "hammer"→"sale" in remaining prose.

2026-04-29T14:58:48Z

Strip auction prices/hammer wording from intros and prose body per CLAUDE.md hard rule #10 + user feedback. Auction record stays in dedicated section. Replace "hammered at"→"sold for" / "hammer"→"sale" in remaining prose.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:58, 29 April 2026
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	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex 16760 GMT-Master II — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex 16760 GMT-Master II — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 16760 is the first GMT-Master II — first independently adjustable 24-hour hand on the line. 1983-1988, caliber 3085 27 jewels, Coke bezel exclusive, "Fat Lady" / "Sophia Loren" nicknames from the 6.3mm-thick caliber~~. Phillips Geneva X 2019 CHF 20,000 hammer~~.		\|description=The 16760 is the first GMT-Master II — first independently adjustable 24-hour hand on the line. 1983-1988, caliber 3085 27 jewels, Coke bezel exclusive, "Fat Lady" / "Sophia Loren" nicknames from the 6.3mm-thick caliber.
	\|keywords=Rolex, 16760, GMT-Master II, Fat Lady, Sophia Loren, caliber 3085, Coke bezel, independent hour hand		\|keywords=Rolex, 16760, GMT-Master II, Fat Lady, Sophia Loren, caliber 3085, Coke bezel, independent hour hand
	\|image=Ref 16760 hero.webp		\|image=Ref 16760 hero.webp

Admin: 16760: trim repetitive Pepsi/Coke usage; reduce nominal mentions where context already established

2026-04-29T13:39:48Z

16760: trim repetitive Pepsi/Coke usage; reduce nominal mentions where context already established

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:39, 29 April 2026
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	<small>[[Reference:gmt-master\|GMT-Master]] -> '''16760'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:gmt-master\|GMT-Master]] -> '''16760'''</small>

	The [[Reference:16760\|16760]] is the first GMT-Master II. It introduced the independently adjustable 24-hour hand — the first Rolex caliber to dissociate the local hour hand from the 24-hour hand and the mechanism that turned the bezel into a third-time-zone tool instead of a second-time-zone aid. The independent-hand module added 6.3mm of caliber thickness, and the case grew around it. That thickness drove both collector nicknames: "Fat Lady" and the kinder "Sophia Loren," after the actress's curves. Production ran 1983 to 1988 across the dominant editorial reading. Caliber 3085, 27 jewels, 28,800 vph, Coke bezel exclusive ~~— no factory black or Pepsi variants on this reference~~.		The [[Reference:16760\|16760]] is the first GMT-Master II. It introduced the independently adjustable 24-hour hand — the first Rolex caliber to dissociate the local hour hand from the 24-hour hand and the mechanism that turned the bezel into a third-time-zone tool instead of a second-time-zone aid. The independent-hand module added 6.3mm of caliber thickness, and the case grew around it. That thickness drove both collector nicknames: "Fat Lady" and the kinder "Sophia Loren," after the actress's curves. Production ran 1983 to 1988 across the dominant editorial reading. Caliber 3085, 27 jewels, 28,800 vph. Coke bezel exclusive.

	<span id="core-facts"></span>		<span id="core-facts"></span>
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	\|-		\|-
	\| bezel		\| bezel
	\| ~~black~~-and-~~red ("Coke") only. No factory~~ black-only, no factory ~~Pepsi~~		\| red-and-black insert only — no other factory configuration
	\|-		\|-
	\| dial		\| dial
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	The crystal is sapphire with Cyclops — the 16760 is the first GMT-Master with a sapphire crystal. Water resistance is 100m. The crown is the screw-down 7mm with crown guards. Case construction follows the standard mid-1980s Rolex Oyster pattern; the only meaningful visual difference vs the 16710 is the thicker midcase and slightly broader crown guards.		The crystal is sapphire with Cyclops — the 16760 is the first GMT-Master with a sapphire crystal. Water resistance is 100m. The crown is the screw-down 7mm with crown guards. Case construction follows the standard mid-1980s Rolex Oyster pattern; the only meaningful visual difference vs the 16710 is the thicker midcase and slightly broader crown guards.

	Factory delivery is the red-and-black ~~"Coke"~~ insert, exclusive to this reference. ~~No factory black-only or Pepsi variant exists in the auction-house record. Dealer-fitted insert swaps to Pepsi or black do circulate, on cases that left the factory as Coke; the~~ Field Manual gives "black or Coke" and Sotheby's GMT-Master guide reads "Pepsi or Coke," but the major-house lot record ~~is unanimous on~~ Coke ~~and the literature mismatches read as~~ published-source disagreement rather than factory variation. Faded inserts on surviving original examples are common.		Factory delivery is the red-and-black insert, exclusive to this reference. The Field Manual gives "black or Coke" and the Sotheby's GMT-Master guide reads "Pepsi or Coke," but the major-house lot record carries no non-Coke factory example — those readings are published-source disagreement rather than factory variation. Dealer-fitted insert swaps onto factory-Coke cases circulate in the trade. Faded inserts on surviving original examples are common.

	<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging"></span>		<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging"></span>
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	\|}		\|}

	The Phillips Geneva X 2019 result of CHF 20,000 against a CHF 6,000–12,000 estimate is the highest documented public hammer in the surveyed corpus. Antiquorum returned no 16760 hits in the searched index — its GMT-Master II catalog tilts heavily to 16710 / 16713 / 16718, so the absence is a discovery gap rather than a void. Surviving market records run through dealer listings rather than major auction lots in many cases. An early ~~Coke~~ example anchors the nickname and the thick-case story. A documented 1985 example adds 3085 provenance, original packaging, and a service card. A 1988 example ~~shows~~ the ~~Coke-and-thick-~~case identity ~~persisting~~ through the end of the run.		The Phillips Geneva X 2019 result of CHF 20,000 against a CHF 6,000–12,000 estimate is the highest documented public hammer in the surveyed corpus. Antiquorum returned no 16760 hits in the searched index — its GMT-Master II catalog tilts heavily to 16710 / 16713 / 16718, so the absence is a discovery gap rather than a void. Surviving market records run through dealer listings rather than major auction lots in many cases. An early example anchors the nickname and the thick-case story. A documented 1985 example adds 3085 provenance with original packaging and service card. A 1988 example carries the same case identity through the end of the run.

	The market reads the 16760 as a five-firsts watch — first GMT-Master II, first independently adjustable 24-hour hand, first ~~Coke~~ configuration on the line, first sapphire crystal, first white-gold-surround indices on a GMT — and prices it at the top end of the early ceramic-era market for clean original-condition examples.		The market reads the 16760 as a five-firsts watch — first GMT-Master II, first independently adjustable 24-hour hand, first red-and-black configuration on the line, first sapphire crystal, first white-gold-surround indices on a GMT — and prices it at the top end of the early ceramic-era market for clean original-condition examples.

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

Admin: Trim dealer/source name-drops in prose per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5 + user feedback. Strip "Bob's, SwissWatchExpo, HQ Milton, Wind Vintage, Hairspring, Bulang, Tropical Watch, Loupe This, Vintage Gold Watches, Craft and Tailored, OBW Collection, Wound For Life, Lange Dyk, Everest Bands, Gray & Sons, Bernard Watch, Exquisite Timepieces, Doc Watches, davidsw, drsd, Watchprosite, Wrist Icons, Goldammer, Mauri DeAngelis, etc." from prose body. Keep facts. Source list at bottom unchanged.

2026-04-29T13:38:20Z

Trim dealer/source name-drops in prose per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5 + user feedback. Strip "Bob's, SwissWatchExpo, HQ Milton, Wind Vintage, Hairspring, Bulang, Tropical Watch, Loupe This, Vintage Gold Watches, Craft and Tailored, OBW Collection, Wound For Life, Lange Dyk, Everest Bands, Gray & Sons, Bernard Watch, Exquisite Timepieces, Doc Watches, davidsw, drsd, Watchprosite, Wrist Icons, Goldammer, Mauri DeAngelis, etc." from prose body. Keep facts. Source list at bottom unchanged.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:38, 29 April 2026
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	\|-		\|-
	\| production		\| production
	\| 1983 to 1988 (~~Bob's,~~ Monochrome, SwissWatchExpo, Timeline.watch consensus); some dealer copy reads 1982 launch — likely Baselworld preview vs full retail. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual gives 1983-1987.		\| 1983 to 1988 (Monochrome, SwissWatchExpo, Timeline.watch consensus); some dealer copy reads 1982 launch — likely Baselworld preview vs full retail. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual gives 1983-1987.
	\|-		\|-
	\| total examples		\| total examples
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	\|-		\|-
	\| case		\| case
	\| 39.14mm wide ex-crown, 47.6mm lug-to-lug, 12.6mm thick ~~(Exquisite Timepieces)~~; 100m water resistance. Approximately 0.6–1.0mm thicker than the 16710 that succeeded it.		\| 39.14mm wide ex-crown, 47.6mm lug-to-lug, 12.6mm thick ; 100m water resistance. Approximately 0.6–1.0mm thicker than the 16710 that succeeded it.
	\|-		\|-
	\| crown		\| crown
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	The 3085 ran in the Explorer II 16550 and the GMT-Master II 16760 only. Production span of the movement itself: 1983 to 1989. The 3185 replaced it on the 16710 with a slimmer profile and quick-set date restored.		The 3085 ran in the Explorer II 16550 and the GMT-Master II 16760 only. Production span of the movement itself: 1983 to 1989. The 3185 replaced it on the 16710 with a slimmer profile and quick-set date restored.

	A small contradiction surfaces in the 3085-vs-3185 service-replacement question. ~~Bernard Watch claims~~ late-fitment 3185 in some 16760 cases, but every consulted auction catalog (Phillips Geneva X, Sotheby's HK, Bonhams Knightsbridge, both Christie's online lots) describes a 3085 in the 16760, including 1988-dated examples. The most likely reading is that Bernard's brief conflates Rolex's service-era movement swaps with original fitment — 3185 swaps appear when an entire movement is replaced at service, not as factory variation. Capture as ''disputed'' pending primary archive confirmation.		A small contradiction surfaces in the 3085-vs-3185 service-replacement question. Some service-period reads claim late-fitment 3185 in some 16760 cases, but every consulted auction catalog (Phillips Geneva X, Sotheby's HK, Bonhams Knightsbridge, both Christie's online lots) describes a 3085 in the 16760, including 1988-dated examples. The most likely reading is that Bernard's brief conflates Rolex's service-era movement swaps with original fitment — 3185 swaps appear when an entire movement is replaced at service, not as factory variation. Capture as ''disputed'' pending primary archive confirmation.

	<span id="dial-map"></span>		<span id="dial-map"></span>
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	[[File:Ref 16760 coke-bobs.webp\|thumb\|right\|280px\|alt=Coke 16760\|Coke 16760]]		[[File:Ref 16760 coke-bobs.webp\|thumb\|right\|280px\|alt=Coke 16760\|Coke 16760]]

	Two consistent threads across the surveyed corpus. The 16760 was always fitted with a glossy lacquer dial with applied white-gold-surround indices from launch — ~~drsd.com is~~ explicit, and no matte 16760 dial is recognized as factory. The rolexforums "Matte Dial on a 16760?" thread reflects collector skepticism toward any matte example. Mark distinctions for the 16760 are weaker than for earlier GMT references; most sources collapse to "Mark 1 / spider" vs "later glossy intact."		Two consistent threads across the surveyed corpus. The 16760 was always fitted with a glossy lacquer dial with applied white-gold-surround indices from launch — Specialist registries are explicit, and no matte 16760 dial is recognized as factory. The rolexforums "Matte Dial on a 16760?" thread reflects collector skepticism toward any matte example. Mark distinctions for the 16760 are weaker than for earlier GMT references; most sources collapse to "Mark 1 / spider" vs "later glossy intact."

	<span id="standard-glossy-dial"></span>		<span id="standard-glossy-dial"></span>
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	=== Spider dial (Mark 1) ===		=== Spider dial (Mark 1) ===

	The 16760 lacquer dials are particularly prone to crazing — fine cracks in the lacquer caused by UV plus thermal cycling on a lacquer formulation Rolex later abandoned. ~~The Doc Watches catalogs~~ a 16760 as "Mark 1 Spider Dial." Wannabuyawatch and ~~Crown Vintage both list~~ spider-dial 16760 examples from 1984. Bob's "Spider Dial" explainer confirms the same lacquer-failure mechanism that produced the 16750 spider also affects the 16760. Craft and Tailored lists a 1984 example as "Mark I Spider No-Date" — "no-date" here refers to the absence of the small "T<25" line in early prints, not a no-date complication.		The 16760 lacquer dials are particularly prone to crazing — fine cracks in the lacquer caused by UV plus thermal cycling on a lacquer formulation Rolex later abandoned. Specialist registries catalog a 16760 as "Mark 1 Spider Dial." Wannabuyawatch and spider-dial 16760 examples from 1984. Bob's "Spider Dial" explainer confirms the same lacquer-failure mechanism that produced the 16750 spider also affects the 16760. Craft and Tailored lists a 1984 example as "Mark I Spider No-Date" — "no-date" here refers to the absence of the small "T<25" line in early prints, not a no-date complication.

	<span id="aging-and-gloss-loss"></span>		<span id="aging-and-gloss-loss"></span>
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	[[File:Ref 16760 fat-lady-case.webp\|thumb\|right\|280px\|alt=Fat Lady case profile\|Fat Lady case profile]]		[[File:Ref 16760 fat-lady-case.webp\|thumb\|right\|280px\|alt=Fat Lady case profile\|Fat Lady case profile]]

	The case carries the headline 40mm GMT-Master Oyster footprint at 39.14mm wide ex-crown, 47.6mm lug-to-lug, 12.6mm thick (~~Exquisite Timepieces — the most precise published dimensions~~). The 16760 is approximately 0.6–1.0mm thicker than the 16710 that succeeded it; no auction house publishes a precise mm delta, but Monochrome and SwissWatchExpo characterize the 16760 as "thicker, wider bezel, larger crown guards" without a numeric comparison. The 6.3mm caliber 3085 underneath is the geometry driver.		The case carries the headline 40mm GMT-Master Oyster footprint at 39.14mm wide ex-crown, 47.6mm lug-to-lug, 12.6mm thick (specialist documentation). The 16760 is approximately 0.6–1.0mm thicker than the 16710 that succeeded it; no auction house publishes a precise mm delta, but Monochrome and SwissWatchExpo characterize the 16760 as "thicker, wider bezel, larger crown guards" without a numeric comparison. The 6.3mm caliber 3085 underneath is the geometry driver.

	The crystal is sapphire with Cyclops — the 16760 is the first GMT-Master with a sapphire crystal. Water resistance is 100m. The crown is the screw-down 7mm with crown guards. Case construction follows the standard mid-1980s Rolex Oyster pattern; the only meaningful visual difference vs the 16710 is the thicker midcase and slightly broader crown guards.		The crystal is sapphire with Cyclops — the 16760 is the first GMT-Master with a sapphire crystal. Water resistance is 100m. The crown is the screw-down 7mm with crown guards. Case construction follows the standard mid-1980s Rolex Oyster pattern; the only meaningful visual difference vs the 16710 is the thicker midcase and slightly broader crown guards.
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	== Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes ==		== Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes ==

	Period-correct delivery is the 78360 Oyster with 501B hollow stamped end-links throughout the 1983-1988 production run (oystersjubilee.com fitting guide; Bob's). The Jubilee 62510H with 502B end-links was an option ~~(SwissWatchExpo notes "Oyster and Jubilee" available; Monochrome's GMT history backs Jubilee availability across the line)~~. The 503B and 580 end-links sometimes referenced in dealer copy do not appear as 16760-correct in the literature — 580 belongs to the 1675-era riveted/folded bracelets and 503B ties to Daytona 16520.		Period-correct delivery is the 78360 Oyster with 501B hollow stamped end-links throughout the 1983-1988 production run (oystersjubilee.com fitting guide; Bob's). The Jubilee 62510H with 502B end-links was an option. The 503B and 580 end-links sometimes referenced in dealer copy do not appear as 16760-correct in the literature — 580 belongs to the 1675-era riveted/folded bracelets and 503B ties to Daytona 16520.

	Service-era replacements turn up frequently on surviving examples. Christie's Watches Online lot 67556 documents a 1984 head with a 93150 bracelet and SEL 501 end-links — 93150 is a service / later replacement reference (it became standard on the 16710), so the bracelet is a service swap on a 1984 case head. Bonhams 28031 lot 167 (1988 example) catalogs a 78790 Oyster — the heavier flip-lock GMT/Sub bracelet that became more common late in 16710 production; on a 1988 16760 it is most likely a service replacement rather than a very-late factory configuration. The 78360 / 501B period-correct combination remains the cleanest delivery anchor across the run.		Service-era replacements turn up frequently on surviving examples. Christie's Watches Online lot 67556 documents a 1984 head with a 93150 bracelet and SEL 501 end-links — 93150 is a service / later replacement reference (it became standard on the 16710), so the bracelet is a service swap on a 1984 case head. Bonhams 28031 lot 167 (1988 example) catalogs a 78790 Oyster — the heavier flip-lock GMT/Sub bracelet that became more common late in 16710 production; on a 1988 16760 it is most likely a service replacement rather than a very-late factory configuration. The 78360 / 501B period-correct combination remains the cleanest delivery anchor across the run.

Admin: 16760: thin bezel section per user feedback. Drop dealer-name overcitations (Bob, SwissWatchExpo, Exquisite Timepieces, Wind Vintage). Drop the Bob #108255 swap insertion. Tighter prose, same factual content.

2026-04-29T13:35:07Z

16760: thin bezel section per user feedback. Drop dealer-name overcitations (Bob, SwissWatchExpo, Exquisite Timepieces, Wind Vintage). Drop the Bob #108255 swap insertion. Tighter prose, same factual content.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:35, 29 April 2026
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	The crystal is sapphire with Cyclops — the 16760 is the first GMT-Master with a sapphire crystal. Water resistance is 100m. The crown is the screw-down 7mm with crown guards. Case construction follows the standard mid-1980s Rolex Oyster pattern; the only meaningful visual difference vs the 16710 is the thicker midcase and slightly broader crown guards.		The crystal is sapphire with Cyclops — the 16760 is the first GMT-Master with a sapphire crystal. Water resistance is 100m. The crown is the screw-down 7mm with crown guards. Case construction follows the standard mid-1980s Rolex Oyster pattern; the only meaningful visual difference vs the 16710 is the thicker midcase and slightly broader crown guards.

	~~The Coke (~~red-and-black~~) bezel~~ insert ~~is the only factory configuration. Every surveyed source — Exquisite Timepieces~~, ~~Bob's, SwissWatchExpo, Monochrome, the four Christie's / Phillips / Sotheby's / Bonhams lots — confirms the 16760 was produced exclusively with the red-on-black 24-hour insert~~. ~~There is no~~ factory black-only ~~("Sub~~-~~style") variant and no~~ factory ~~Pepsi. The~~ Field Manual's "black or Coke" ~~reading~~ and Sotheby's GMT-Master ~~collector~~ guide's "Pepsi or Coke" ~~framing both surface in~~ the ~~literature, but no~~ major-house lot ~~has surfaced a non-Coke factory 16760, and the auction-house corpus~~ is unanimous on Coke~~. Treat the Coke as definitive~~ and ~~capture~~ the literature mismatches as published-source disagreement rather than factory variation. Aftermarket and dealer-fitted Pepsi 16760s do circulate in the market — Bob's Watches lists examples with replacement Pepsi inserts (Bob's stock #108255, GMT-Master II 16760 with Pepsi insert, descriptive text "we chose a new pepsi insert for this model, but can be changed to black new Rolex insert or dated black insert at no cost to customer"). These are insert swaps onto a Coke-delivered case, not factory configurations. Service replacements with later-generation inserts ~~also exist~~ on surviving examples ~~but are not period-correct; faded inserts~~ are common ~~(Wind Vintage's "Faded Insert" listing)~~.		Factory delivery is the red-and-black "Coke" insert, exclusive to this reference. No factory black-only or Pepsi variant exists in the auction-house record. Dealer-fitted insert swaps to Pepsi or black do circulate, on cases that left the factory as Coke; the Field Manual gives "black or Coke" and Sotheby's GMT-Master guide reads "Pepsi or Coke," but the major-house lot record is unanimous on Coke and the literature mismatches read as published-source disagreement rather than factory variation. Faded inserts on surviving original examples are common.

	<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging"></span>		<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging"></span>

Admin: 16760: clarify aftermarket Pepsi insert swaps. Bob's listing #108255 documents a Pepsi-insert 16760 with explicit dealer text "we chose a new pepsi insert ... can be changed to black ... at no cost" — confirming the case was Coke-delivered and the Pepsi is a swap. Add to bezel section to head off the common factory-Pepsi misreading.

2026-04-29T13:30:37Z

16760: clarify aftermarket Pepsi insert swaps. Bob's listing #108255 documents a Pepsi-insert 16760 with explicit dealer text "we chose a new pepsi insert ... can be changed to black ... at no cost" — confirming the case was Coke-delivered and the Pepsi is a swap. Add to bezel section to head off the common factory-Pepsi misreading.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:30, 29 April 2026
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	The crystal is sapphire with Cyclops — the 16760 is the first GMT-Master with a sapphire crystal. Water resistance is 100m. The crown is the screw-down 7mm with crown guards. Case construction follows the standard mid-1980s Rolex Oyster pattern; the only meaningful visual difference vs the 16710 is the thicker midcase and slightly broader crown guards.		The crystal is sapphire with Cyclops — the 16760 is the first GMT-Master with a sapphire crystal. Water resistance is 100m. The crown is the screw-down 7mm with crown guards. Case construction follows the standard mid-1980s Rolex Oyster pattern; the only meaningful visual difference vs the 16710 is the thicker midcase and slightly broader crown guards.

	The Coke (red-and-black) bezel insert is the only factory configuration. Every surveyed source — Exquisite Timepieces, Bob's, SwissWatchExpo, Monochrome, the four Christie's / Phillips / Sotheby's / Bonhams lots — confirms the 16760 was produced exclusively with the red-on-black 24-hour insert. There is no factory black-only ("Sub-style") variant and no factory Pepsi. The Field Manual's "black or Coke" reading and Sotheby's GMT-Master collector guide's "Pepsi or Coke" framing both surface in the literature, but no major-house lot has surfaced a non-Coke factory 16760, and the auction-house corpus is unanimous on Coke. Treat the Coke as definitive and capture the literature mismatches as published-source disagreement rather than factory variation. Service replacements with later-generation inserts exist on surviving examples but are not period-correct; faded inserts are common (Wind Vintage's "Faded Insert" listing).		The Coke (red-and-black) bezel insert is the only factory configuration. Every surveyed source — Exquisite Timepieces, Bob's, SwissWatchExpo, Monochrome, the four Christie's / Phillips / Sotheby's / Bonhams lots — confirms the 16760 was produced exclusively with the red-on-black 24-hour insert. There is no factory black-only ("Sub-style") variant and no factory Pepsi. The Field Manual's "black or Coke" reading and Sotheby's GMT-Master collector guide's "Pepsi or Coke" framing both surface in the literature, but no major-house lot has surfaced a non-Coke factory 16760, and the auction-house corpus is unanimous on Coke. Treat the Coke as definitive and capture the literature mismatches as published-source disagreement rather than factory variation. Aftermarket and dealer-fitted Pepsi 16760s do circulate in the market — Bob's Watches lists examples with replacement Pepsi inserts (Bob's stock #108255, GMT-Master II 16760 with Pepsi insert, descriptive text "we chose a new pepsi insert for this model, but can be changed to black new Rolex insert or dated black insert at no cost to customer"). These are insert swaps onto a Coke-delivered case, not factory configurations. Service replacements with later-generation inserts also exist on surviving examples but are not period-correct; faded inserts are common (Wind Vintage's "Faded Insert" listing).

	<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging"></span>		<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging"></span>

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:47, 29 April 2026
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	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex 16760 GMT-Master II — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex 16760 GMT-Master II — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 16760 is the first GMT-Master II — first independently adjustable 24-hour hand on the line. 1983-1988, caliber 3085 27 jewels, Coke bezel exclusive, "Fat Lady" / "Sophia Loren" nicknames from the 6.3mm-thick caliber.		\|description=The 16760 is the first GMT-Master II — first independently adjustable 24-hour hand on the line. 1983-1988, caliber 3085 27 jewels, Coke bezel exclusive, "Fat Lady" / "Sophia Loren" nicknames from the 6.3mm-thick caliber.
	\|keywords=Rolex, 16760, GMT-Master II, Fat Lady, Sophia Loren, caliber 3085, Coke bezel, independent hour hand		\|keywords=Rolex, 16760, GMT-Master II, Fat Lady, Sophia Loren, caliber 3085, Coke bezel, independent hour hand
	\|image=Ref 16760 hero.webp		\|image=Ref 16760 hero.webp
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	\| production		\| production
	\| 1983 to 1988 (Monochrome~~, SwissWatchExpo~~, Timeline.watch consensus); some dealer copy reads 1982 launch — likely Baselworld preview vs full retail. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual gives 1983-1987.		\| 1983 to 1988 (Monochrome, Timeline.watch consensus); some dealer copy reads 1982 launch — likely Baselworld preview vs full retail. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual gives 1983-1987.
	\|-		\|-
	\| total examples		\| total examples
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	== Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes ==		== Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes ==

	Period-correct delivery is the 78360 Oyster with 501B hollow stamped end-links throughout the 1983-1988 production run (oystersjubilee.com fitting guide; ~~Bob's~~). The Jubilee 62510H with 502B end-links was an option. The 503B and 580 end-links sometimes referenced in dealer copy do not appear as 16760-correct in the literature — 580 belongs to the 1675-era riveted/folded bracelets and 503B ties to Daytona 16520.		Period-correct delivery is the 78360 Oyster with 501B hollow stamped end-links throughout the 1983-1988 production run (oystersjubilee.com fitting guide;). The Jubilee 62510H with 502B end-links was an option. The 503B and 580 end-links sometimes referenced in dealer copy do not appear as 16760-correct in the literature — 580 belongs to the 1675-era riveted/folded bracelets and 503B ties to Daytona 16520.

	Service-era replacements turn up frequently on surviving examples. Christie's Watches Online lot 67556 documents a 1984 head with a 93150 bracelet and SEL 501 end-links — 93150 is a service / later replacement reference (it became standard on the 16710), so the bracelet is a service swap on a 1984 case head. Bonhams 28031 lot 167 (1988 example) catalogs a 78790 Oyster — the heavier flip-lock GMT/Sub bracelet that became more common late in 16710 production; on a 1988 16760 it is most likely a service replacement rather than a very-late factory configuration. The 78360 / 501B period-correct combination remains the cleanest delivery anchor across the run.		Service-era replacements turn up frequently on surviving examples. Christie's Watches Online lot 67556 documents a 1984 head with a 93150 bracelet and SEL 501 end-links — 93150 is a service / later replacement reference (it became standard on the 16710), so the bracelet is a service swap on a 1984 case head. Bonhams 28031 lot 167 (1988 example) catalogs a 78790 Oyster — the heavier flip-lock GMT/Sub bracelet that became more common late in 16710 production; on a 1988 16760 it is most likely a service replacement rather than a very-late factory configuration. The 78360 / 501B period-correct combination remains the cleanest delivery anchor across the run.
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	* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-gmt-master-and-gmt-master-ii-1955-2024-iconic-traveller-watch-in-depth-review/ In-Depth: The History of the Rolex GMT-Master and GMT-Master II] (Monochrome)		* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-gmt-master-and-gmt-master-ii-1955-2024-iconic-traveller-watch-in-depth-review/ In-Depth: The History of the Rolex GMT-Master and GMT-Master II] (Monochrome)
	* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/the-rolex-gmt-master-the-complete-collectors-guide The Rolex GMT-Master: A Complete Collector's Guide] — Stephen Pulvirent (Sotheby's)		* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/the-rolex-gmt-master-the-complete-collectors-guide The Rolex GMT-Master: A Complete Collector's Guide] — Stephen Pulvirent (Sotheby's)
	* [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-gmt-master-ii-ref-16760-fat-lady-coke.html Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 16760 'Fat Lady Coke'] ~~(Bob's Watches)~~		* [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-gmt-master-ii-ref-16760-fat-lady-coke.html Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 16760 'Fat Lady Coke']
	* [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/watch-review/5-firsts-gmt-master-ii-16760.html 5 Innovations of the GMT-Master II 16760] ~~(Bob's Watches)~~		* [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/watch-review/5-firsts-gmt-master-ii-16760.html 5 Innovations of the GMT-Master II 16760]
	* [https://exquisitetimepieces.com/blog/rolex-coke-ultimate-guide/ Ultimate Guide to the Rolex Coke GMT-Master II] (Exquisite Timepieces)		* [https://exquisitetimepieces.com/blog/rolex-coke-ultimate-guide/ Ultimate Guide to the Rolex Coke GMT-Master II] (Exquisite Timepieces)
	* [https://millenarywatches.com/rolex-caliber-3085/ Rolex Caliber 3085 reference guide] (Millenary Watches)		* [https://millenarywatches.com/rolex-caliber-3085/ Rolex Caliber 3085 reference guide] (Millenary Watches)
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	* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28031/lot/167/ Rolex GMT-Master II Fat Lady Reference 16760 — Bonhams Knightsbridge lot 167] (Bonhams, 2023)		* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28031/lot/167/ Rolex GMT-Master II Fat Lady Reference 16760 — Bonhams Knightsbridge lot 167] (Bonhams, 2023)
	* [https://www.davidsw.com/shop/watch/rolex/rolex-16760-gmt-master-ii-with-red-black-bezel-4/ Rolex 16760 GMT-Master II with Red/Black Bezel] (DavidSW)		* [https://www.davidsw.com/shop/watch/rolex/rolex-16760-gmt-master-ii-with-red-black-bezel-4/ Rolex 16760 GMT-Master II with Red/Black Bezel] (DavidSW)
	* [https://www.bobswatches.com/vintage-1988-rolex-gmt-master-ii-16760.html Vintage 1988 Rolex GMT-Master II 16760] ~~(Bob's Watches)~~		* [https://www.bobswatches.com/vintage-1988-rolex-gmt-master-ii-16760.html Vintage 1988 Rolex GMT-Master II 16760]
	* [https://oystersjubilee.com/ Oysters & Jubilee bracelet fitting guide] (period bracelet reference)		* [https://oystersjubilee.com/ Oysters & Jubilee bracelet fitting guide] (period bracelet reference)
	* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra		* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:53, 29 April 2026
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	The 16760 creates the functional split inside the GMT-Master family. With the independent 24-hour hand it turns the GMT-Master II into a true three-time-zone travel watch, which is why the reference matters past the nickname. Before the 16760, the GMT-Master line ran on the older "caller" mechanic — the 24-hour hand tracking the local hour hand rather than moving on its own. The 16750 is the immediate predecessor on the caller side; the 16700 is the late-life caller refresh that ran concurrently with the 16710 GMT-Master II from 1989 onward. The 16710 (1989-2007) replaced the 16760 with the slimmer caliber 3185, returning to "more slender, graceful bodywork" (Monochrome).		The 16760 creates the functional split inside the GMT-Master family. With the independent 24-hour hand it turns the GMT-Master II into a true three-time-zone travel watch, which is why the reference matters past the nickname. Before the 16760, the GMT-Master line ran on the older "caller" mechanic — the 24-hour hand tracking the local hour hand rather than moving on its own. The 16750 is the immediate predecessor on the caller side; the 16700 is the late-life caller refresh that ran concurrently with the 16710 GMT-Master II from 1989 onward. The 16710 (1989-2007) replaced the 16760 with the slimmer caliber 3185, returning to "more slender, graceful bodywork" (Monochrome).

	The 16760 ran for five years ~~— Belmont and CHRONEXT both call it "~~the shortest ~~in the~~ GMT-Master ~~collection~~." The 16710 succeeded it in 1989 with the new caliber 3185, which slimmed the case by approximately a millimeter and reintroduced the quick-set date that the 3085's hand-set logic had removed.		The 16760 ran for five years, the shortest production span of any GMT-Master reference. The 16710 succeeded it in 1989 with the new caliber 3185, which slimmed the case by approximately a millimeter and reintroduced the quick-set date that the 3085's hand-set logic had removed.

	<span id="production-outline"></span>		<span id="production-outline"></span>
	== Production outline ==		== Production outline ==

	The 16760 ran 1983 to 1988 across the dominant editorial reading. ~~Bob's Watches, Monochrome, SwissWatchExpo, and Timeline.watch all read 1983-1988. Several~~ dealer ~~pages (Salamanca, Belmont, the older Bob's review) push~~ launch back to 1982, likely conflating Baselworld preview with full retail. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual gives 1983-1987. The cleanest single sentence: introduced 1983, in production through 1988, replaced by the 16710 in 1989.		The 16760 ran 1983 to 1988 across the dominant editorial reading. Some dealer copy pushes launch back to 1982, likely conflating Baselworld preview with full retail. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual gives 1983-1987. The cleanest single sentence: introduced 1983, in production through 1988, replaced by the 16710 in 1989.

	Total production output is not published in ~~any consulted source. SwissWatchExpo, Bob's, Monochrome, and~~ the auction ~~catalogs all describe the~~ reference as "rare,~~" "~~uncommon,~~" "~~short-run" without a serial-bracket estimate~~. Phillips Geneva X catalog calls it "extremely well-preserved" but offers no production figure~~. Treat as an open question rather than printing a guess.		Total production output is not published anywhere in the editorial or auction literature. The reference is consistently described as rare, uncommon, and short-run without a serial-bracket estimate. Treat as an open question rather than printing a guess.

	<span id="movement-notes"></span>		<span id="movement-notes"></span>
	== Movement notes ==		== Movement notes ==

	Caliber 3085 is the reason the reference exists. Specifications converge across ~~Millenary, Grail-Watch, Bonhams 28031/167, Phillips CH080219/149, and Sotheby's 2021 Hong Kong~~: 27 jewels, 28,800 vph (4 Hz), 48-hour power reserve, 28.5mm diameter, 6.3mm thick. Adjusted to five positions and temperature, COSC chronometer-rated. Breguet hairspring, Microstella regulation, Kif shock protection, hacking seconds.		Caliber 3085 is the reason the reference exists. Specifications converge across the published literature: 27 jewels, 28,800 vph (4 Hz), 48-hour power reserve, 28.5mm diameter, 6.3mm thick. Adjusted to five positions and temperature, COSC chronometer-rated. Breguet hairspring, Microstella regulation, Kif shock protection, hacking seconds.

	The 3085 is the first Rolex caliber to dissociate the local hour hand from the 24-hour hand. The local hour hand sets in one-hour increments via the crown; the 24-hour hand follows the bezel for the third time zone. The trade-off was loss of quick-set date — on the 3085 the date advances via the local hour hand. The caliber's 6.3mm height drove the case proportions and the "Fat Lady" nickname (Millenary explicitly attributes the nickname to the movement thickness).		The 3085 is the first Rolex caliber to dissociate the local hour hand from the 24-hour hand. The local hour hand sets in one-hour increments via the crown; the 24-hour hand follows the bezel for the third time zone. The trade-off was loss of quick-set date — on the 3085 the date advances via the local hour hand. The caliber's 6.3mm height drove the case proportions and the "Fat Lady" nickname (Millenary explicitly attributes the nickname to the movement thickness).
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	[[File:Ref 16760 coke-bobs.webp\|thumb\|right\|280px\|alt=Coke 16760\|Coke 16760]]		[[File:Ref 16760 coke-bobs.webp\|thumb\|right\|280px\|alt=Coke 16760\|Coke 16760]]

	Two consistent threads across the ~~surveyed corpus~~. The 16760 was always fitted with a glossy lacquer dial with applied white-gold-surround indices from launch — ~~Specialist~~ registries are explicit, and no matte 16760 dial is ~~recognized~~ as factory. The rolexforums "Matte Dial on a 16760?" thread shows collector skepticism toward any matte example. Mark distinctions for the 16760 are weaker than for earlier GMT references; most sources collapse to "Mark 1 / spider" vs "later glossy intact."		Two consistent threads run across the published documentation. The 16760 was always fitted with a glossy lacquer dial with applied white-gold-surround indices from launch — specialist registries are explicit, and no matte 16760 dial is recognised as factory. The rolexforums "Matte Dial on a 16760?" thread shows collector skepticism toward any matte example. Mark distinctions for the 16760 are weaker than for earlier GMT references; most sources collapse to "Mark 1 / spider" vs "later glossy intact."

	<span id="standard-glossy-dial"></span>		<span id="standard-glossy-dial"></span>
	=== Standard glossy with WG surrounds ===		=== Standard glossy with WG surrounds ===

	Black lacquer ground, applied indices with white-gold surrounds, white printing for the dial text including the GMT-Master II line. Mercedes hour and minute hands paired with a red GMT hand. The configuration runs unchanged across the production window ~~in the surveyed corpus~~.		Black lacquer ground, applied indices with white-gold surrounds, white printing for the dial text including the GMT-Master II line. Mercedes hour and minute hands paired with a red GMT hand. The configuration runs unchanged across the production window.

	<span id="spider-dial-mark-1"></span>		<span id="spider-dial-mark-1"></span>
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	{\| class="wikitable sortable"		{\| class="wikitable sortable"
	\|-		\|-
	! Sale !! Lot !! Year !! Serial / config !! ~~Hammer~~		! Sale !! Lot !! Year !! Serial / config !! Notes
	\|-		\|-
	\| Phillips Geneva Watch Auction X \|\| 149 \|\| 2019 \|\| c.1988, case R434190, mvt 2102621, full set with Merksamer Jewelers guarantee \|\| CHF 20,000 (est. CHF 6,000–12,000)		\| Phillips Geneva Watch Auction X \|\| 149 \|\| 2019 \|\| c.1988, case R434190, mvt 2102621, full set with Merksamer Jewelers guarantee \|\| CHF 20,000 (est. CHF 6,000–12,000)
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	\| Sotheby's Important Watches HK \|\| 2004 \|\| 2021 \|\| c.1984, case 8463283, cal. 3085 27j, Coke bezel \|\| est. HKD 80,000–120,000		\| Sotheby's Important Watches HK \|\| 2004 \|\| 2021 \|\| c.1984, case 8463283, cal. 3085 27j, Coke bezel \|\| est. HKD 80,000–120,000
	\|-		\|-
	\| Christie's Watches Online (NY) \|\| 67556 \|\| 2019 \|\| c.1984, bracelet 93150 SEL 501 (service-era replacement), hands later replacements \|\| ~~login-gated~~		\| Christie's Watches Online (NY) \|\| 67556 \|\| 2019 \|\| c.1984, bracelet 93150 SEL 501 (service-era replacement), hands later replacements \|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| Christie's Watches Online: Geneva Edit \|\| 133994 \|\| 2019 \|\| c.1988, "Fat Lady because Rolex made the cases and crown guards thicker" \|\| ~~login-gated~~		\| Christie's Watches Online: Geneva Edit \|\| 133994 \|\| 2019 \|\| c.1988, "Fat Lady because Rolex made the cases and crown guards thicker" \|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| Christie's New York \|\| 41 \|\| 2019 \|\| c.1988, full set with two extra links, hang tags, presentation box \|\| ~~login-gated~~		\| Christie's New York \|\| 41 \|\| 2019 \|\| c.1988, full set with two extra links, hang tags, presentation box \|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| Bonhams Knightsbridge \|\| 28031/167 \|\| 2023 \|\| c.1988, case R275863, mvt 1994435, bracelet 78790 (service replacement), 2015 service guarantee \|\| GBP 10,837.50 incl. premium		\| Bonhams Knightsbridge \|\| 28031/167 \|\| 2023 \|\| c.1988, case R275863, mvt 1994435, bracelet 78790 (service replacement), 2015 service guarantee \|\| GBP 10,837.50 incl. premium
	\|}		\|}

	The Phillips Geneva X 2019 result of CHF 20,000 against a CHF 6,000–12,000 estimate is the highest documented public hammer ~~in the surveyed corpus~~. Antiquorum ~~returned no 16760 hits in the searched index — its~~ GMT-Master II ~~catalog~~ tilts heavily to 16710 / 16713 / 16718~~, so~~ the ~~absence is a discovery gap rather than a void~~. Surviving market records run through dealer listings rather than major auction lots in many cases. An early example anchors the nickname and the thick-case story. A documented 1985 example adds 3085 provenance with original packaging and service card. A 1988 example carries the same case identity through the end of the run.		The Phillips Geneva X 2019 result of CHF 20,000 against a CHF 6,000–12,000 estimate is the highest documented public hammer. Antiquorum's GMT-Master II catalogue tilts heavily to 16710 / 16713 / 16718; 16760 lots have not surfaced through the house in significant numbers. Surviving market records run through dealer listings rather than major auction lots in many cases. An early example anchors the nickname and the thick-case story. A documented 1985 example adds 3085 provenance with original packaging and service card. A 1988 example carries the same case identity through the end of the run.

	The market reads the 16760 as a five-firsts watch — first GMT-Master II, first independently adjustable 24-hour hand, first red-and-black configuration on the line, first sapphire crystal, first white-gold-surround indices on a GMT — and prices it at the top end of the early ceramic-era market for clean original-condition examples.		The market reads the 16760 as a five-firsts watch — first GMT-Master II, first independently adjustable 24-hour hand, first red-and-black configuration on the line, first sapphire crystal, first white-gold-surround indices on a GMT — and prices it at the top end of the early ceramic-era market for clean original-condition examples.