Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 2014 Reference No: 116710LN Movement No: A4'6Y1'193 Case No: 4P'909'689 Model Name: GMT Master II "Sea King" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal.3186, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: NATO, further accompanied by Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 200mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle for the NATO strap and STainless steel Rolex deployant clasp for the Oyster bracelet Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex fitted box, Guarantee, instruction manual, Certificate from Watches of Switzerland confirming the watch is number 111/123, copies of photos of Ltd Craig and the Sea King during mission, a letter on Royal Navy letterhead describing Ltd Craig’s career, copies of the flight logs and Royal Air Force Sea Kings Search and Rescue uniform patches.
Catalogue Essay
It is widely known that Rolex does not usually make limited edition watches or even less rarely accepts to make special pieces upon order, therefore it is quite an event when one of these rare pieces comes to market.
The present GMT-Master II is a 123 piece limited edition 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.
The watch was sold exclusively to those associated to the Sea King and not available for purchase otherwise. A certificate issued by Watches of Switzerland (an authorized Rolex retailer in the UK) confirms the limited edition status of the watch and that it is number 111/123. The Sea King is engraved on the caseback with the words “Fear God Honour the King”
This particular example belonged to Ltd D. Craig, pilot of the Royal Navy where he completed missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Ghana. He was then part of the Search and Rescue team based in the North of England where he flew the Sea King, his tours consisting of rescuing fallen climbers, lost sailors and even animals. He left the Royal Navy after over 10 years to follow a civilian career.
Not only is this watch a limited edition Rolex but it is laden with the adventures and rescue missions of Ltd Craig. It is furthermore accompanied by copies of photos of Ltd Craig and the Sea King during mission, a letter on Royal Navy letterhead describing Ltd Craig’s career, copies of the flight logs and Royal Air Force Sea Kings Search and Rescue uniform patches.
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 stainless steel automatic wristwatch with center seconds, 24-hour indication, date, engraved caseback, bracelet, guarantee and box. Part of a 123 pieces limited edition made in commemoration of the Sea King helicopter
2014 40mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed