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There is arguably no travel watch more iconic than the Rolex GMT-Master II. With a legacy that spans from the 1950s in the original GMT-Master collection and a design which has come to influence countless watches in the travel category for sport watches, the modern design carries the legacy of a pioneer, and today rests as one of the most in-demand watches of our time.

The story of the GMT-Master II starts right here with the ref. 16760, which at its launch in the early 1980s represented the next generation of the travel watches at Rolex. Otherwise known as the "Fat Lady" for its increased case thickness when compared to the GMTs that came before it, the reference was one of many aesthetic and technological firsts in the collection.

Of its larger case– sized at 40mm by 13mm in steel– the increase was made necessary by the GMT-Master's first major movement upgrade in its production run, introducing the then-cutting edge Rolex caliber 3085. Featuring a reliable 42-hour power reserve and steady timekeeping, the automatic mechanism most notably allowed for the 12-hour, main hour hand to jump in one-hour increments forward or backward without the movement stopping, and in-turn representing a major technical improvement.

Outside of advancements in movement, the ref. 16760 is also known for its vibrant "Coke" bezel insert. The model was the first watch in Rolex's history to use this black and red bezel layout as opposed to the more traditional blue and red "Pepsi" insert seen prior. The difference at its launch importantly helped distinguish the reference, and to this day continues to add a unique charm to the watch in context to Rolex's long and interesting history in the travel watch category.