The vintage Rolex GMT-Master references buyers ask about most are the original 1675, the transitional 16750 and the last GMT-Master II built on the pre-ceramic case, the 16710, and together they trace the model's evolution from a 1959 pilot's tool with an acrylic crystal to the sapphire-crystal, independently adjustable-hour-hand watch Rolex sold into the 2000s. Each has a distinct bezel, crystal and movement history, and each attracts a different kind of buyer. This guide sets out what each reference is, the Pepsi bezel variants that move value, how the three compare, how they wear, dated 2026 prices and what to check before buying a watch that is now between about 25 and 65 years old. Bizak & Co. sources vintage GMT-Masters to order; the GMT-Master II collection lists the configurations we can seek.
Last reviewed on September 26, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.
Which vintage GMT-Master references matter?
Rolex introduced the GMT-Master in 1954 for Pan Am pilots who needed to track a second time zone at a glance, and the model passed through several references before arriving at the three most buyers encounter today. The 1675 is the classic 1960s and 1970s GMT-Master with the red-and-blue "Pepsi" bezel and an acrylic crystal. The 16750 of the early 1980s brought the first quickset date to the model and introduced sapphire. The 16710 closed out the line in the 1990s with the independently adjustable hour hand that turned it into a true GMT-Master II, while keeping the same case size and bracelet as its predecessors. All three share a 40 mm case and a bidirectional 24-hour bezel; what changes is the movement, the crystal and, on the 16710, the range of bezel colours on offer.
Vintage GMT-Master references compared
| 1675 | 16750 | 16710 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | 1959 to about 1980 | About 1981 to 1988 | 1989 to the mid-2000s, when the ceramic-bezel 116710LN arrived in 2007 |
| Movement | Calibre 1565, then 1575; not independently adjustable hour hand | Calibre 3075, first quickset date on the model | Calibre 3185, independently adjustable hour hand (true GMT-Master II function) |
| Crystal | Acrylic | Sapphire, introduced on this reference | Sapphire |
| Bezel colours | Pepsi (red/blue); black on later examples | Pepsi, fading to "faded Pepsi"; black; two-tone "root beer" brown/gold on the 16753 | Black, Pepsi (16710 BLRO) or "Coke" (black/red) |
| Water resistance | 100 m (330 ft) | 100 m (330 ft) | 100 m (330 ft) |
Source: the Rolex GMT-Master II collection page for the current model, and Rolex watch care and service for the service and parts policy that applies to discontinued references. Dates for these references are approximate; Rolex does not publish production records.
Rolex GMT-Master 1675: the original Pepsi
The 1675 ran for two decades with only gradual changes: pointed crown guards on the earliest examples from 1959 to about 1961, then the rounded guards seen on most surviving watches, and a dial that moved from gilt printing to matte white text over the run. It kept the acrylic crystal and a bidirectional bezel with no independent hour-hand function, so travellers read the second time zone directly off the 24-hour hand against the bezel rather than jumping the main hour hand. The red-and-blue Pepsi insert is the version most associated with the reference, though black-bezel examples exist and are less common. Because production spanned so many small changes, condition and originality of the bezel insert, dial and hands matter more to price than the exact year alone.
Rolex GMT-Master 16750: sapphire and quickset arrive
The 16750 modernised the GMT-Master with two changes that mattered to owners: a sapphire crystal that no longer scratched in daily wear, and the calibre 3075's quickset date, which let the date be corrected without cycling the hands through a full 24 hours. The Pepsi bezel continued, and the aluminium insert on examples from this era is known for fading unevenly to a "faded Pepsi" look that collectors now seek out deliberately. Rolex also offered a two-tone steel-and-gold version, reference 16753, with a brown-and-gold "root beer" bezel and a "nipple" dial with raised gold hour markers, which has its own following distinct from the all-steel 16750.
Rolex GMT-Master 16710: the last of the line before ceramic
The 16710 carried the GMT-Master name into its final chapter before Rolex moved the range to a ceramic bezel in 2007. Its calibre 3185 gave it an independently adjustable hour hand, the function that defines a true GMT-Master II: the local hour hand jumps in one-hour steps while the 24-hour hand and bezel track a second zone, rather than requiring the wearer to do the bezel math the 1675 and 16750 required. It was offered with a black bezel, the Pepsi insert (reintroduced on this reference after a gap in the 1980s and 1990s) and a black-and-red "Coke" insert. Because it uses an aluminium rather than ceramic insert, its bezel colour fades and scratches more than the current 126710 range, which is part of its appeal to buyers who want the vintage look with a more modern movement underneath.
How do vintage GMT-Masters wear?
All three are 40 mm with the same case proportions and 20 mm lug width, and they wear thinner than a current GMT-Master II because the cases lack the wider crown guards Rolex introduced later and the bracelets are lighter, especially on folded-link examples. The bidirectional bezel on the 1675 and 16750 turns freely both ways, unlike the unidirectional bezel on dive watches, and needs to be checked for even, secure clicks rather than looseness. Acrylic crystals on the 1675 scratch easily but can be polished; sapphire on the 16750 and 16710 resists scratches but chips if struck on an edge.
How much is a vintage Rolex GMT-Master? Prices in 2026
- Bizak catalogue asks. On 26 September 2026 our sourced catalogue listed a 1675 from US$20,459 pre-owned and a 16710 from US$14,184 pre-owned, sourced to order; 16750 examples are quoted on request given the wider spread driven by bezel fade and dial condition.
- What moves the price. An original, evenly faded Pepsi bezel insert, a matching-patina dial and hands, an unpolished case with sharp lug chamfers, and correct-period bracelet stretch each add; a service bezel insert, replaced hands, a polished case and a stretched bracelet each subtract.
- Papers. Original punched papers are rare on 1675s and add a meaningful premium; on the 16710 a full set is more commonly available.
Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact reference, bezel and set; our Pepsi GMT-Master guide covers the bezel's history in more depth.
Buying a vintage GMT-Master: what to check
- Bezel insert. Confirm the insert colour and fade pattern are consistent with age rather than a mismatched replacement; on Pepsi examples the red and blue halves should fade evenly if at all.
- Dial and hands. Lume colour should match between the dial markers and the hands; a relumed dial against original patina on the hands is a common inconsistency.
- GMT function. On the 16710, confirm the local hour hand jumps independently in one-hour steps without disturbing the minute hand or the 24-hour hand; on the 1675 and 16750, confirm the bezel turns smoothly in both directions with even detents.
- Case and lugs. Sharp lug chamfers and even brushing; rounded edges point to repeated polishing over the watch's life.
- Crystal. Acrylic on the 1675 should be free of deep gouges; sapphire on the 16750 and 16710 should be chip-free at the edge.
- Movement and service. Ask for the last service record; parts for the 1565, 1575 and 3075 are scarcer than for the 3185.
- Price against the band. A full-set, evenly faded Pepsi example offered well under the market is the single most reliable warning sign.
Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.
Quick answers
What is the difference between the GMT-Master and GMT-Master II?
A GMT-Master reads a second time zone off a bidirectional bezel against a fixed 24-hour hand; a GMT-Master II, starting with references like the 16710, has an independently adjustable hour hand, so it can track a third time zone or set local time without disturbing the 24-hour hand.
How much is a vintage Rolex GMT-Master?
Bizak's sourced catalogue listed a 1675 from US$20,459 and a 16710 from US$14,184, both pre-owned and sourced to order, on 26 September 2026. Prices vary with bezel originality and condition.
What is a faded Pepsi bezel?
An aluminium red-and-blue bezel insert, mainly on the 16750, that has aged unevenly from UV exposure, softening the red to pink or the blue to grey; it is a sought-after patina rather than a flaw.
Does the 1675 have a sapphire crystal?
No. The 1675 uses an acrylic crystal throughout its production; sapphire arrived with the 16750 in the early 1980s.
What is a root beer GMT-Master?
The nickname for the two-tone steel-and-gold 16753, which pairs a brown-and-gold bezel insert with a "nipple" dial featuring raised gold hour markers.
Request a vintage GMT-Master sourcing quote
Tell us the reference, preferred bezel colour or dial variant, condition and whether papers are required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, papers and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: GMT-Master 1675RB, GMT-Master 1675RB1962, GMT-Master II 16710U3, GMT-Master II 16710C1; browse the GMT-Master II collection, or sell or trade your GMT-Master.
Related reading: Pepsi GMT-Master II guide · GMT-Master II Batman guide · GMT-Master II root beer guide · Watch nicknames explained.
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