What the 16710 is
The Rolex GMT-Master II reference 16710 is a 40 mm stainless steel watch with a 24-hour hand and a rotating 24-hour bezel. Rolex made it from 1989 to 2007. It replaced the 16760 and sat next to the 16700, which had no independent hour hand. Three bezel inserts shipped: red and blue (Pepsi), red and black (Coke), and all black. Inserts swap with a press tool, so many watches on the used market carry a non-original insert.
Genuine specifications
- Case: 40 mm, 904L stainless steel, screw-down crown and case back.
- Crystal: sapphire, 2.5x cyclops over the date.
- Movement: caliber 3185, then caliber 3186 from about 2000. Both run at 28,800 vph and hold about 48 hours of power reserve.
- Bracelet: Oyster reference 78790, solid end links, Oysterlock clasp.
- Water resistance: 100 m.
- Dial: tritium with "SWISS - T < 25" below 6 o'clock on older stock, Luminova with "SWISS MADE" on later stock.
How the movement behaves
On a genuine 16710, crown position 2 moves the local hour hand in one-hour jumps. The 24-hour hand stays where you set it. The date changes with the local hour hand. On many replicas the 24-hour hand jumps instead, because the base movement is an ETA 2836-2 or a Seagull ST-6 series with a bolt-on GMT module. That reversed behavior is the fastest single check at a bench.
Parts that differ on replicas
- Hand stack. Genuine 3185 and 3186 place the 24-hour hand at the bottom, under the hour and minute hands. Many replicas put it on top.
- Bezel insert. Genuine inserts have a set font, a flat-topped 2, and a pip with a metal ring. Replica inserts show thick numerals and a glued pip.
- Case profile. Genuine crown guards follow the curve of the crown. Replica guards run thick or flat.
- Bracelet and clasp. Genuine 78790 links hold tight tolerances, and the clasp stamp matches the case date code. Replica stamps do not.
- Engravings. Model and serial numbers sit between the lugs. Replica engravings are shallow and use a wider font.
Prices and legal status
Genuine 16710 prices run about $8,000 to $15,000, based on insert, dial, and box and papers. Replica versions sell from about $80 to $600. Factories label grades with names such as "AAA" and "1:1," but no replica maker publishes a parts catalog, service manual, or warranty.
In the United States, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Importing a counterfeit watch can lead to seizure by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and civil penalties under 19 U.S.C. 1526. Water resistance on a replica is not tested to any standard. Gaskets and crystals on replicas often have no source for replacement.
Checks before you buy
Ask for photos of the hand stack, the bezel insert, the crown guards, and the serial between the lugs. Ask for the movement number. A seller who cannot supply those photos is a risk. Servicing a replica with a broken GMT module costs more than the watch in many cases, since a watchmaker has to source a used ETA or Seagull base and refit it.