Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 2014 Reference No: 116710LN Movement No: 93'8V6'8M8 Case No: OV'686'960 further stamped 2350 inside caseback and 123/123 on the outside Model Name: GMT-Master II "Sea King" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3186, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 200mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Catalogue Essay
The present GMT-Master II is part of an extremely rare limited edition of 123 pieces made to commemorate the famous Sea King helicopter commissioned by the British Ministry of Defense to be used as an anti-submarine warfare helicopter as well as a search-and-rescue (SAR) and airborne early warning (AEW) helicopter.
Produced between 1969 and 1995, the last remaining Sea King variant in Royal Navy service was retired on September 2018. Even if Rolex is known for not doing limited edition or accepting to produce special pieces upon order anymore, the present watch proves the exception. Exclusively sold to those associated to the Sea King and not available for purchase otherwise, the watches were numbered on the caseback next to the Sea King engravings with the words “Fear God Honour the King”.
Numbered 123/123 the present watch is the last one of the batch. It is offered in excellent condition and even if the visible part of the watch is identical to any other reference 116710LN, the breath of the collector will for sure be taken away when looking at the caseback.
Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
Ref. 116710LN A fine and very rare limited edition stainless steel automatic wristwatch with center seconds, 24-hour indication, date, engraved caseback and bracelet
2014 40mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed