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Rolex GMT Rootbeer Ref.16753

The Rolex GMT-Master reference 16753 “Root Beer” is one of those watches that shows just how much personality a vintage Rolex sports watch can have. Introduced as part of the first five-digit GMT-Master generation, the ref. 16753 brought together the familiar travel-watch functionality of the GMT-Master with a warmer steel and yellow gold execution. It is a watch built for crossing time zones, but dressed with a very 1970s and 1980s sense of style.

Famously associated with actor and director Clint Eastwood, the Root Beer GMT carries a charm that reaches well beyond the watch world. The brown tritium dial, gold accents, and brown-and-gold bezel insert give the watch a completely different mood from the more familiar Pepsi GMTs. It feels softer, warmer, and a little more playful, while still remaining every bit a Rolex tool watch underneath. The nickname comes from the bezel’s resemblance to the colours of root beer soda, and on a bi-colour Jubilee bracelet the whole design simply comes together beautifully.

Inside beats Rolex’s calibre 3075, an important upgrade for the GMT-Master line. Compared to the earlier calibre 1575, it brought a quickset date and a higher beat rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour, making the ref. 16753 more practical in daily use while still retaining all the charm of a vintage GMT.

We can all agree this is not just a GMT-Master, but one with a lot of character. The warm tones, bi-colour case, and Jubilee bracelet give it a relaxed confidence that is hard not to like.

Visit our store to feel its vintage yet timeless look and feel on your wrist at the Reestraat 3, Amsterdam.

Year

1986
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Brand Rolex
Movement Automatic
Model GMT
Diameter 40 mm
Reference 16753
Bracelet/strap: Steel/gold
Year of production (circa) 1986
Lug Width 20 mm
Material Gold / steel
Set Content Watch only
Crystal Acrylic
Warranty 2 year (AWCo)
Dial color Brown

The Rolex GMT Master was developed on request by Pan-Am airways in 1954. It was the age of air travel and for the first time in history, it became common practice to routinely cross timezones. Pan-Am requested a watch for its crews, that would allow for easy referencing of the time while doing so. Rolex obliged with an adapted Turn-o-graph Ref. 6202. It got a different bezel and a fourth 24-hour hand. It was labeled GMT Master Ref. 6542.

Rolex fitted the GMT Master with a bakelite bezel insert, displaying 24 hours. A, now iconic, color-scheme of blue for the night and red for the day was introduced. The Pepsi Rolex was born. Since bakelite was prone to breaking, an aluminum bezel insert was introduced in 1956.

The Ref. 6542 had a relatively short production period of five years, before being replaced by the fan-favorite Ref. 1675 in 1959. The updated model was equipped with crown-guards and a hacking movement. It is the archetypal Rolex GMT Master we all know and love. It has been produced in a variety of colors, in steel, gold and two-tone variants and with different bracelet options.

In 1981, the Ref 16750 was introduced, which came with a quickset date and a higher water resistance of 100 meters over the Ref. 1675’s 50 meters. It was accompanied by the Ref. 16760 in 1983, also known as the GMT Master II. For the first time, the fourth hand could be individually set, upping the number of trackable timezones from two to three. The two versions coexisted for about five years. The Ref. 16760 featured a sapphire crystal and a slightly thicker case, earning it the nicknames “Fat Lady” and “Sophia Loren”.

The late 80’s and 90’s saw a few more updates to both the GMT Master and the GMT Master II. In 2005, the ceramic GMT Master II (the six-digit references) was launched, putting us firmly into modern GMT territory.

The GMT Master is still a watch that exudes adventure. It is all about globetrotting in style. It is both rugged and elegant, a tool and a piece of jewelry. You can opt for that iconic blue & red look, or go for an almost-Submariner-like black version. And as with all Rolex, there are loads of rare and exotic versions to be found.

At AWCo we put the safety of our shipments upfront at all times. Therefore, we ship all our packages insured.

We strive to promptly handle packages to minimize delays. Delivery times begin from the day of dispatch. While we make every effort to ensure smooth delivery, we cannot be held responsible for delays caused by destination customs, local duties, taxes, or lost items during transit.

Certainly, we understand that overloaded mail-order companies can also contribute to potential delays in the delivery process. Despite our best efforts, external factors beyond our control may affect shipping times. Rest assured, we remain committed to providing timely service and will work diligently to ensure your order reaches you as promptly as possible. For any inquiries or updates, feel free to reach out to us at info@awco.nl. Your satisfaction is our priority.