The Rolex GMT-Master II is a legendary watch, instantly recognizable for its iconic bidirectional rotating bezel and its ability to display multiple time zones simultaneously. While the model we commonly associate with the GMT-Master II emerged in 1989 with the reference 16710 (alongside its gold and two-tone siblings, the 16718 and 16713 respectively), the story of its evolution is far richer and more nuanced. This article delves into the often-overlooked period leading up to the 16710, specifically focusing on what we *can* infer about a potential 1983 GMT-Master II, acknowledging the lack of a specific reference number for that year. We will also explore related Rolex models from the era, providing context and clarifying some common misconceptions.
The statement that 1989 marked the introduction of the GMT-Master II reference 16710 is accurate. However, the lineage of the GMT-Master II stretches back further, and understanding its predecessors is crucial to appreciating the 16710's significance. Before the 16710, Rolex produced the GMT-Master reference 16760, affectionately nicknamed the "Fat Lady" due to its noticeably thicker case compared to its predecessors. The "Fat Lady" was indeed a significant step in the evolution of the GMT-Master, paving the way for the features we see in the later GMT-Master II models. However, the precise year of its introduction is often debated, with some sources placing it in the late 1970s and others in the early 1980s. This ambiguity makes pinpointing a specific "1983 Rolex GMT-Master II" challenging. No official Rolex records point to a specific GMT-Master II model released in 1983.
To understand the potential landscape of a hypothetical 1983 GMT-Master II, we need to examine the models that existed before and after the 16760. The earlier GMT-Master models, like the reference 1675 and its variants (including the frequently discussed 16750 and 16753), lacked the independently adjustable hour hand that is a defining characteristic of the GMT-Master II. These earlier models required setting the entire time to adjust the second time zone, a less convenient system. The "jump hour" function, allowing the independent adjustment of the 24-hour hand, was a key innovation introduced with the GMT-Master II. Therefore, any hypothetical 1983 GMT-Master II would likely possess this feature, although its precise design and features remain speculative.
Let's look at some related Rolex models from 1983 to gain a better understanding of the brand's offerings during that period:
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