Rolex GMT-Master II 116713LN Review (Sold 2009)

[PatCruiser]

better light would be nice

[bsodmike]

@PatCruiser Sorry about that! I promise, my next 'watch review' will be in better light.

[superginus1]

ggoooooddddd  onli steel

[jinder72]

Superb 116713

[bsodmike]

@jinder72 Thanks mate - I sold this watch and a few others from my growing collection a while back. Looking forward to picking up an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15300ST by March/April next year (2012).

[PeteDaBomb]

I remember watching this video several times bevor I finally decided to buy this watch.

Best decision ever...

[bsodmike]

@PeteDaBomb belated congrats!

[OfficialAdamDeRocco]

What a beautiful watch!

[utube996]

Well done! I enjoyed your video.

[bsodmike]

@aruans Grand choix, bravo!

[raihando]

Yo BSODmike Bro,

Does the SS version of the GMT II ceramic have the spring loaded clasp and the comfort extension link too? I am buying me one soon and hence one to get all the info needed to decide which one to buy bro!!!

[bsodmike]

@raihando to both questions - yes :)

[CasualX3]

you got good taste..i have the same watch!!

[ynfo2008]

I love this watch!

[Davidjay22]

can i get a good looking rolex for under £2000 ?

[bsodmike]

@Davidjay22 You would have to look at second hand pieces. It is possible but it would be pretty old.

[Leomagnifichi]

@Davidjay22 you can get wonderful tudors

[synthuser]

The DJ are just too dressy for my tastes. GMTs are incredible. Speaking of taste, I would have loved to see you drink that glass of Rolex water, just for effect.

[mavericksf16]

How much did you pay for it?

[bsodmike]

Mind you, when I bought this watch it was quite a while back. I believe I spent around £4,300 or so at a Rolex Boutique; sold it a year later for £4,000.

Buying it brand new today of course would cost considerably more as Rolex have had a few price increases and bullion has been doing rather well in recent times as well.

[mavericksf16]

Thanks,I'm still confused as to which one I should go for between the SS GMT & Yacht-Master platinum.

[bsodmike]

The YM SS/PT is still the older design waiting to be updated - may be at Basel this year this will happen?

Personally I did not like it, even though I went to the boutique at the time hoping to buy it. Instead, I got the TT GMTIIC. I have seen and handled the SS GMTIIC and it is very nice indeed. You might be happier with it, and the bezel and bracelet are just superb as well (not the stamped steel clasp etc).

[MRFEDORGEO]

very good review

[MRFEDORGEO]

this gmt looks better than submariner ceramic bezel

[webcityguy]

Sweet looking watch. I think it outshines the older style Sub t/t's by far. Too bad the solid gold links boost up the price into "car or watch?" territory; but at the same time, cars wear out and this thing will outlast us all.

[scotfreak]

a truly amazing watch, i didnt know you sold it!

[bsodmike]

I was a nice watch, but I eventually tired of it.

The main reason is even though it was comfortable, especially due to the flat caseback, it was no where as comfortable as my DateJust. The DJ was also my favourite in comparison and I felt it robbed me the chance of wearing my DJ 24/7. I had well over 6 months to think it over and ultimately felt I'd be happier with just my DJ - and I am.

My personal tastes are more along the lines of DateJust, Day-Date President etc..

[scotfreak]

good man, nice tastes. although i do like the spor tmodels as well, especially the 50th anniversary submariner.

[muratb333]

I like your reviews and your work with robots is pretty awesome too! Engineer with good taste! As a fellow engineer I need my toys too like a fine watch and writing instrument.

[mentalmark]

Got this watch, love it, I fly a lot so it is perfect.

To the poster suggesting it's a fake, none of the fakes manage to replicate the independent hour hand, which is how you can tell this one is real. Some of the fakes look pretty good but they all lack this feature... which is pretty much why you own a GMTII :)

[bsodmike]

Thanks for your comments Mark ~ trust it will bring you many years of joy!

[Golfinhoz]

Is this a copy watch?

[bsodmike]

Unlikely considering I sold it to a long standing member of The Ultimate Rolex Forum (TURF) for £4,000.- after having owned it for over a year!

Decided that I am far happier with my DateJust...

[MrPlanetOcean]

Is the comfort extension link any good? Looking at the video it seems to me like it may not extend the bracelet enough.

Great review, nice watch!

[bsodmike]

It does extend it enough to go from slightly wrist hugging, to loose enough to at least get another finger underneath. The purpose of it is to extend itself to accommodate for any deviations in the size of your wrist due to hot weather (swelling up) etc.

Sure, it is not as perfect as the Glidelock clasp on the Rolex DeepSea, but it gets the job done.  That said, if you need any more extension it seems that you will ideally require at least another link in your bracelet or even a half-link.

[SUPERCOOLNICEGUY]

its a buetifull watch all around. the most important thing is the size and fit of this model. you can wear this watch everyday with no problems. i own the rolex deep sea also. and its a huge watch. it does have more adjustability. but it is something you would not wear everyday. so many people give the deepsea the thumbs down for this. even though its a very cool watch. also take a look at the bvlgari assioma. its nicely priced and it will look great on anybody. a must have.

[bsodmike]

Actually the Ceramic bezel numerals are blasted in Platinum, but the hands and hour-marker surrounds are still white gold like any other Sport Rolex in SS :)

[bsodmike]

Hi Mike, thanks for your comments. Mine is a M serial as well, 160 for UK. Rolex are currently on V :)

This is definitely my favourite Rolex, and last night I just realised how extremely great the design is of the dial while I was groping in the dark on my way to the toilet LOL. Even without my specs I could clearly make out the time, and even see a blurry bit of green moving..the lume is that good!

I know of another pilot with Cathey who has the SS GMTIIC. Is your 24hr hand synced to GMT?

[webcityguy]

Great review. Thanks. Only one point : you're lighting is horrible. The shadows and dimness almost completely obscure the watch you're talking about.

[bsodmike]

Yes; I should have set a light box up for this. Will sort it out before I do any future reviews :)

[bsodmike]

I actually just recently got some information on this. LN = Lunette Noir (French for black bezel) as the 116718 has the 'green' Anniv. bezel with glit writing.

Even the 116713 is sometimes referred to as the "Anniversary" model, due to the green text on the black dial and green GMT hand. Hope this helps!

[ihaveairlockers]

I wear a red and black steel GMT master 2 and i will never part with it. It's practical for international flying. The dealer i got it from in 2004 wants to buy it back.

It's not for sale...

[bsodmike]

I know what you mean. With the Kermit, the 'LV' was significant. Green glass Milgauss is 'GV'. But with the 116713, there is no such significance and the 50th Anni. Green dial (with glit writing) is only on the 18k YG GMTIIC, 116718 any ways!

To add to the confusion, go search on Google for '116713 BSO'; here the BSO is a means for stock identification.

[bsodmike]

There should be no difference. In the earlier catalogues it was called the 116713LN (as it is also marked on my warranty card) but the latest catalogue simply refers to it as 116713. Make of it what you will.

[Bader88]

hey mike great review which do you recommend this or omega let me know thanks

[bsodmike]

Any of the Rolex GMTs obviously :p The Rolex GMT movement 3186 has the Parachrom Blu hairspring and a free-sprung balance for starters.

Not only that, the new GMTIICs look far far nicer than anything Omega has to offer!

[Bader88]

Cool Thanks over all the rolex have a better resale value too GMT 2 it is thanks mike

[bsodmike]

Oh, most definitely. Rolexes also appreciate each year (twice already for 2008!).

If you plan to enjoy it, say for the next 3-4 years and part with it at that point, you can easily expect to recoup what was spent and possibly even make a bit more in the sale. Anothyer great thing about Rolex is that their service centres around the globe to excellent work, unlike Omega who are limited to performing their best work at their HQ in Biel/Bienne.

[bsodmike]

You are also guaranteed to have your watch looking like new, the day you bought it, after each service.

I personally find the RSC in London @ St. James Sq. to be the best, with very friendly and helpful staff.

All the best with your new Rolex ~ just make sure to get it insured to its full replacement value!

[dkpw]

Very nice review Mike!

All the best.

dkpw

[whippp]

Thanks for this review BSOD! I just picked up a SS GMT IIc and I love it. I set the GMT hand to GMT aka Universal time that you explain well in this video. I think it works better that way than setting it to local military time and I can just move the bezel to find local time when traveling. Thanks again BSOD!

[whippp]

I meant "home time" when traveling not local

[lobzdik]

why doesnt the 24 hour hand move when you change the hour hand?

[bsodmike]

When you pull the crown out to the first stop, it is in 'independent mode'.

Imagine I am flying from London to Geneva. All I have to do is to put the crown into this setting and move the hour hand forwards by one hour.

Since the 24 hr hand was designed to track a 'known zone' it does not shift; it only shifts if you move the crown into the second stop and it also causes the seconds hand to stop (or hack as it is called).

With this Rolex movement you can go forwards and backwards, no prob

[lobzdik]

oh ok, thanks alot

thats what i was thinking...

so the 24hr hand keeps time of your "home" right? so wen you fly back from say Geneva to London you just put the hour hand back and you know where its supposed to be?

also, say that you decided to sta in Geneva and wanted to set the watch normaly to the Swiss time, youd have to put the hour hand back to the London time, and then set the time in "independent mode"?

am i gettin the drift of how this GMT thing works?

[bsodmike]

24 hr hand: yes, you can either set it to "home" (at lots of people do) or have it the 'military/pilots' way by keeping the 24 hr hand to GMT. This way you have a known reference.

[lobzdik]

oh ok i get it thanks!

GMT is the 0 time zone right? London...

[bsodmike]

GMT is 0.0 offset as you mentioned. London swings between GMT and GMT+1 depending on their DST (Daylight Savings Time) cycle.

[bsodmike]

Flying back from Geenva to London: yes, do this with the crown at the first stop and the movement never stops!

Staying in Geneva - nope, you won't have to do that. When you pull the crown out by one stop, the seconds hand keeps running. Since the time diff. between London and Geneva is only 1 hr, you only need to move the hr hand forward ~ you are now set to Swiss time. The 24 hr hand can either remain pointing to UK ("home" time) or GMT depending how you set it in the first place.

[lobzdik]

yeah but if i want to make Geneva my "home" time, id have to change the 24hr hand to the Geneva time right?

and this would require to first move the hour hand to its original position and then to set the watch to Geneva time in independent mode?.. so that the 24hr hand and the normal hour hand would indicate the same time...

[bsodmike]

Ah, sure, if you want to do it that way - you're definitely correct :)

[hackerandcrackersinc]

Just bought my new GMT II this afternoon!

$8275.00 CND, I cant take my eyes off it. now im looking at people views on this watch.

[bsodmike]

Congrats on your new watch, that's a great price for the TT - I paid closer to £4,500 in January 2008...

[hackerandcrackersinc]

No i got the SS

[lobzdik]

hey whats the diff between the tt and the ss?

[bsodmike]

The TT model has 18k YG solid links in the bracelet, 18k YG crown/bezel. The dial has 18k YG hour surrounds as are the hands also in 18k YG. Unlike the SS model, the numbers on the ceramic bezel are in 18 YG as well.

The SS model has the numbers blasted in platinum into the ceramic bezel, although the SS model is far cheaper.

[lobzdik]

so is the SS gold at all? or does it just have less gold?

can the two tone GMT Master be a TT?

[bsodmike]

I think you're a bit confused here, but no problem :)

SS = Stainless Steel. The watch has as much steel as your kitchen sink. The only gold the SS model has is a minute amount (about a fraction of a gramme) is the white gold hour-marker surrounds and white gold hands.

The TT GMTIIC (the one I have reviewed here) is two-tone; TT = Two-Tone meaning Gold and Steel.

Any watch that features gold and steel is called two tone. Just this watch has SOLID gold throughout, *no* hollow links :D

[lobzdik]

haha yeah thanks, i just figured that out a little while ago aaall by myself lol

was a bit dumb of me )

[bsodmike]

heh no worries, it happens to the best of us :)

[bsodmike]

Rizzle, that's the whole point. When the crown is pulled out to independently move the hour hand, the seconds, mins and 24hr hand are unaffected. I keep the 24hr hand synced to GMT with the bezel.

Therefore, when travelling you either move the hour hand to suit your current zone or use the bezel or both. You can use the bezel as a reference if you ever get confused, which is why I like this method: the military pilots way of using a GMT watch.

[rizzle187187]

One thing i don't understand when you move only the hour hand the GMT 24 hour hand doesent move? how does that work when you get back home becaus how do you then know the GMT 24 hour hand is correct.becaus when you set the watch in normal mode with the minute hand then the gmt 24 hour hand does move? anybody understand what im saying?

[Surge1045]

Very practical review on the watches features.  Much appreciated!

[sheldonksmith]

Great review and great concept to put on YouTube.

-Sheldon

[Vel1989]

I really liked the review of this fellow TRF'er - Frostie

[124218]

Great review. I'm a fellow TRF'er -- oneillba

[ACfreestyles]

Very nice review Mike, I really liked it. See u on TZ:)