Rolex GMT MASTER 16700: This is the moment to celebrate my 25th year in collecting watches.

May 01, 2023,09:07 AM
 

Why the GMT MASTER, and why the 16700? Because it was my first serious watch, THE watch which made me jump into the watch madness. 


In fact, when I was 16, I fell on a TV Series, called Magnum, in French. I saw Thomas Magnum as child saluting his father's coffin, wearing his father's Rolex 1675. 


I immediately fell in love with this watch and made the promise to myself that I will get one, one day. I had to wait 20 more years to achieve this dream. And it was a 16700, which I stupidly sold. 

Here are some photos I found on the net, to pay homage to this watch, and more precisely to this reference. 

Credit: Amsterdam Watch Company: 




Credit: Lunar Oyster: 



Credit: Babaorum.



Credit: Christies, for these last two pictures: 




Mine had the blue and red insert. 

This reference led me to watch madness, as since then, I caught the virus / bug, in a frenetical way. 

But the GMT MASTER was and still is very dear to my heart. This watch has everything I like: An incredible look, a friendly complication and a lot of character. At the point that when I decide, one day, to put a final end to collecting, I think it will be with a last watch... A GMT MASTER. 

Another lesson I learned, during all these years: Do never sell your first watch!

Best,

Nicolas 


More posts: 167001675GMT Master

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It could have been worse

 
 By: Arronax : May 1st, 2023-09:26
You could have developed a strong taste for manly facial and body hair, probably why the gmt master looked so good although a red 308 helped too

Fantastic story! This timepiece is #1 on my wish list!

 
 By: 777Dave : May 1st, 2023-09:51
I can certainly relate to the Magnum PI narrative. He is one of my all time favourite TV stars. I confess to watching all the old episodes and even went to Hawaii to celebrate my wife’s 50th just before covid cruelly stopped free travel. We hired a conver... 

Gorgeous

 
 By: Gelato Monster : May 1st, 2023-10:06
IMHO GMT is the most quintessential Rolex (more so than daytona, sub)🙂

I totally agree. ;)

 
 By: amanico : May 1st, 2023-10:23

Happy 25th!

 
 By: Aquaracer1 : May 1st, 2023-10:45
Hindsight is 20 / 20. Only then do we realize how it made us feel. Perhaps you were chasing something else, maybe raising funds for a different project. Not to worry, if you want it back, I’m sure you will find a way to make that happen!

Magnum, my favourite series back then

 
 By: brauner : May 1st, 2023-11:29
Remember this part of the series very well. But it needed plenty more years to buy a GMT Master II. And I sold it too.🤨

Too bad!

 
 By: amanico : May 1st, 2023-12:32

Your posts are always inspirational

 
 By: Horology75 : May 1st, 2023-13:49
Thank you for sharing your journey with us Mon Ami .. the Gmt is just a perfect timepiece and I can see why you were attracted to this beauty ..

++++1. Thank you, O.

 
 By: amanico : May 1st, 2023-14:20

You know it could be worse if you kept every watch

 
 By: cazalea : May 1st, 2023-14:19
According to sources I've seen (not asking him directly) Jay Leno has over 181+ exotic cars & trucks in his collection, and 160 these vehicles are stored in his garage in Burbank, California which today occupies more than 120,000 square feet. I heard him...  

Yes, in my case I probably have as many watches as he has cars

 
 By: cazalea : May 1st, 2023-14:22
But sadly not so much money or storage!

LOL!!!

 
 By: amanico : May 1st, 2023-14:23

Fun story to share Mon Ami!

 
 By: Darron : May 1st, 2023-14:48
That scene with the boy and the dad’s watch on is a great one I never knew. Alas, no Rolex for me.

The GMT is truly perfect!

 
 By: andrea~ : May 1st, 2023-15:50
No other travel watch is as iconic and well designed as the GMT. It's the quintessential Rolex sports watch, even more than the sub and the daytona in my humble opinion.

A legend and for good reason.

 
 By: vitalsigns : May 1st, 2023-22:57
And Magnum, P.I. is a great show for a young kid to watch in the 80s. It sure was for me... What's not to like? Free rent in paradise, use of a Ferrari, sporting a Rolex GMT, and sun and babes...lots of babes. )) My first nice watch was also a Rolex in th... 

Rolex GMT MASTER 16700

 
 By: lefore : May 2nd, 2023-02:09
I have always been a huge fan of this beautiful 16700. One of my favorite Rolex watches.

Congratulations on your 25th year of watch collecting!

 
 By: ayush.netqueuetech : May 2nd, 2023-07:42
The GMT MASTER series is an iconic collection from Rolex, and the 16700 model is a classic choice with its versatile design and reliable functionality. It's no surprise that it has become a favorite among watch collectors, and owning one is definitely a s... 

Happy collector 25th Anniversary dear Nicolas!! Nice to remember your first "serious" watch specially when it was the one which fired your passion for watch collecting.

 
 By: Subexplorer : May 2nd, 2023-14:16
It is a shame you don´t own it. It´s a good advice not to sell a first watch. I commited same mistake and regret that so much today even if it was not a well known brand or important watch. I would love to still own it. Anyway you already own some superb ... 

A lo mejor... ;)

 
 By: amanico : May 2nd, 2023-21:18

👍👍

 
 By: Subexplorer : May 2nd, 2023-22:53

congratulations and great memories!

 
 By: Jakx : May 3rd, 2023-06:29
Lots of common sentiments. There is nothing quite like the original Magnum and his GMT!

How true! ;)

 
 By: amanico : May 3rd, 2023-06:48

Cool.

 
 By: amanico : May 3rd, 2023-15:56

beautiful story...

 
 By: hl99 : May 5th, 2023-21:53
...and great pics as usual Nico. I have no doubt your final GMT Master will be something special 😉 ...  

Beautiful story you can feel the passion.

 
 By: Bill : May 6th, 2023-20:37
I got lucky i still have my first Rolex but passed it on to the next generation. ...  

Great post … my learning has been never sell any watch…

 
 By: hans_jorgen_1968 : August 2nd, 2023-09:50
My first “real watch” came also as a GMT, in fact a 1675 that I sold a few years later Big mistake Keep up your great posts BR Hans

I actually think that this GMT

 
 By: stabilizer : August 2nd, 2023-15:31
Roughly this generation at the latest, and back to the original, is THE Rolex watch. Not the sub, not the explorer, not the bubbleback. This is debatable of course, but to me it is this one.