Rolex

Presented at Basel in 2007, the reference 116710LN was quick to catch the eye of many. Launched in celebration of the GMT-Master’s grand 50th anniversary, Rolex gave the iconic model line a series of modern and practical updates. The GMT-Master II, in comparison to its predecessor, was all about sizing up. The watch featured a larger case diameter of 40 mm (otherwise coined the “super case”) as well as larger lugs. But the key feature of this watch was the bezel. The two letters tailing the reference number, “LN”, stand for “Lunette Noir”—French for “black bezel.” Not only did Rolex release this reference with a special single-color bezel, this reference was the first in the entire brand history to have a ceramic bezel—a then revolutionary design cue that has now become a core standard. 

As Rolex’s first stainless steel, Cerachrom ceramic, single-color bezeled GMT, the reference 116710LN is nothing short of a historical masterpiece. One astounding feature specific to this particular watch is its entirely brushed finish. Unlike typical Rolex sports watches that show a combination of brushed and polished surfaces, every single surface of this current watch is rendered in a brushed finish—making it distinctively different from other Rolexes, and also giving it a subtler look upon wear. A largely unusual and highly momentous Rolex reference, this watch is certainly not one to miss.