Short answer

The Rolex 16750 is a GMT-Master built from about 1981 to 1988. It uses caliber 3075, a movement with a quick-set date and a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The case measures 40 mm. The crystal is acrylic. Fakes of this exact reference are uncommon. Most counterfeit GMT-Master watches on the market copy the 16710 from the 1990s or the modern 126710.

Reference facts

  • Production years: 1981 to 1988. It replaced the 1675 and was replaced by the 16700.
  • Movement: Rolex caliber 3075, 27 jewels, 28,800 vph, quick-set date.
  • Predecessor movement: caliber 1575 in the 1675, 19,800 vph, no quick-set date.
  • Case: 40 mm stainless steel. Most examples have drilled lug holes.
  • Crystal: acrylic. Sapphire arrived with the 16700 in 1988.
  • Bezel: 24-hour insert. Blue and red (Pepsi) and black and red (Coke) are the two popular colorways. All-black and two-tone versions exist.
  • Dial: matte black with tritium plots and a T designation for tritium.
  • Bracelet: Oyster 78360 with 580 end links, or Jubilee 62510H with 50 end links.

What counterfeit 16750s get wrong

Counterfeit vintage Rolex watches fail on case geometry, dial printing, and movement. On a 16750 the errors repeat in the same spots.

  1. Case thickness. Replica cases run 0.5 mm to 1 mm thicker than the original. Crown guards look blocky or too thin.
  2. Crystal. A sapphire crystal on a 16750 is wrong. The original is acrylic and shows a soft dome at the edge.
  3. Dial text. The coronet and the GMT-MASTER line are the hardest parts to copy. Fake coronets have uneven point spacing.
  4. Bezel insert. Numeral shapes are a tell. Fake 2 and 4 digits are wider than the Rolex font.
  5. Movement. A 3075 has a quick-set date in crown position 2. A movement without quick-set is not a 3075. Neither is a plain ETA 2836 with a Rolex rotor.
  6. Lume. Tritium on a 1980s dial is dead and shows no glow after charging. A dial that glows has been relumed or is not original.

Checks a watchmaker runs

  • Reference and serial stamps between the lugs, at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock.
  • Case back interior stamps and the model number.
  • Movement photos: balance bridge, rotor engraving, jewel count.
  • Bezel insert font and the position of the triangle at 12.
  • Bracelet clasp codes and end link fit.

Why the 16750 is a hard reference to fake

Replica factories aim at current models. A 16710 or 126710 sells in volume. A 16750 appeals to a smaller group, and the acrylic crystal, drilled lugs, and matte tritium dial add cost. That gap does not make every 16750 genuine. It means a buyer should compare any 16750 against a known original and a movement photo.

Price note

Prices for genuine 16750 examples move with dial type, insert color, bracelet, and case condition. Auction records differ by year and by lot, so check recent sale results before you set a number. A low price on a steel GMT-Master with a matte dial is a signal to inspect the case and movement.