Rolex Sophia Loren GMT Master II's five Firsts

The Fat lady carries Rolex’s five firsts on GMT Master

“Fat lady” or sometime called “Sophia Loren” stands for GMT Master Ref 16760 may be due to the profile of the watch resembles the Italian beauty.

It was a milestone piece for Rolex to create the GMT Master II version. It comes with a Black Red bezel only. That is why called “Coke”.

They have five firsts

1.  It comes with Black Red bezel as for the first time.

2.  Thicker case by 1 mm, a wider bezel and a larger crown guards than its predecessors 16750.

3.  First to use 18KT wife gold surrounding the luminous hour marker to preserve shininess and keep it beautiful for many years.

4. The first to use sapphire crystal on the dial.

5. New Rolex Caliber 3085 in use. The new generation movement allowed the center hour hand to be set independently from the arrow-tipped 24-hour hand from the minute and second hand. Therefore, when travelers arrived to a new destination they could easily set the watch to the local hours.

Fat lady was introduced first time in 1983 and last batch rolled out from Factory in year end of 1988. Only 5 years were in production.

Due to the short production time, Number of units made were small, and it was made with Tritium dial, some of the dial tends to change Tropical and that value will grow. And since this watch is made with Sapphire which is hard and scratch resistant. This is both a functional and collectible item for Rolex Collector.

Attached one is a 1988 last batch R series. Dial had been changed to slightly brown and looks great as a neo-vintage Rolex. 

Reference of GMT Master

Year 1956-1959 Ref 6542 (Blue Red) Cal. 1030

Year 1959-1980 Ref 1675 (Blue Red) Cal. 1570

Year 1981-1988 Ref 16750 (Blue Red) Cal. 3075

Year 1983-1988 Ref 16750 Fat Lady (Black Red) overlapping with 16750 Cal. 3075

Year 1988-1999 Ref 16700 (Blue Red) Transition period Cal. 3175

Year 1989-2005 Ref 16710 (Blue Red, Black Red) Cal 3186

Year 2005-2014 Ref 116718 gold Black bezel Cal. 3186

Year 2008-2019 Ref 116710LN (black bezel with green GMT pointer)  Cal. 3186

Year 2013-2019 Ref 116710LNR (Blue Black) on Oyster bracelet Naked name “Batman Cal. 3186

Year 2013-2019 Ref 116719 Blue Red in White gold Cal 3186

Year 2018 update present Ref 126710BLRO (Blue Red) Cal. 3285

Year 2019- update to now 126710BLNR (Blue Black on Jubilee bracelet) Cal. 3285

HK Snob