ROLEX | GMT-MASTER II SULTAN, REFERENCE 16713, STAINLESS STEEL AND YELLOW GOLD DIAMOND AND RUBY-SET DUAL-TIME WRISTWATCH WITH DATE AND BRACELET, CIRCA 1998

The Rolex GMT-Master II reference 16713 was produced between 1989 and 2005/6 as the stainless steel and yellow gold counterpart of the steel reference 16710. The watch could be purchased either with a black or gilt and bronze bezel insert. Its long production period lead to the progressive introduction of novel features throughout the model’s lifetime, such as new dials, bracelets and luminescent materials.

Mechanically-wise, the 16713 relies on the calibre 3185 which conveniently offers a hacking second feature and the ability to set the hour hand independently for quick time adjustments.

The present black bezel example was manufactured in late 1998 and bears several interesting features for the detail-oriented collector. The so-called ‘Sultan’ or ‘Serti’ (i.e: French for gem-set) silvered dial was introduced a few years into the model production and is set with 8 diamond indexes and 3 triangular rubies (as opposed to the diamond and sapphire dials observed on the Submariner range). This watch was in fact produced using the last tritium dials, mentioning ‘SWISS – T<25’ before the switch to Luminova shortly after. The inner-caseback bears the 16710 reference as opposed to the newer 2180 code introduced later in 1998.

Finally, this nostalgic two-tone GMT Master II is offered on its original 78793A bracelet with the short and two-tone Oysterlock clasp.