Rolex
GMT Master II Ceram Black Bezel - Black Bezel

“Some travel watches reveal their function through colour. Others preserve it within an almost secret detail, a green hand crossing a black dial, like a discreet connection between the place where one stands and the place to which one remains attached.”

Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116710LN, M-series serial number, 40 mm 904L Oyster steel case, bidirectional 24-hour rotating bezel with black Cerachrom insert, black Maxi Dial with large luminous hour markers, green GMT hand, green GMT-MASTER II inscription, second-time-zone display, date at 3 o’clock beneath a Cyclops lens, sapphire crystal, Triplock screw-down crown, steel Oyster bracelet with polished centre links, Oysterlock clasp and Easylink comfort extension, Rolex calibre 3186 chronometer-certified automatic movement operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, approximately 48-hour power reserve after full winding, 31 jewels, 100-metre water resistance, 2008 watch accompanied by its original Rolex warranty card, sold pre-owned by Mostra, fully inspected, authenticated and covered by a 3-year.

The Rolex GMT-Master II 116710LN belongs to that family of watches whose success was built gradually, almost silently. When it appeared, it had neither the immediate two-colour brilliance of a Pepsi nor the contrast of a Coke, nor the nickname that became essential to more recent references. It moved forward with an entirely black bezel, a black dial, an Oyster bracelet and that green GMT hand which alone was enough to sign the watch. This restraint, which could once appear almost conservative beside more colourful GMT watches, has become one of its principal qualities over time.The 2008 M-series places this example within the early years of the reference, introduced in 2007. The watch therefore belongs to the beginning of the six-digit steel generation, when Rolex brought the GMT-Master II into the ceramic era with a more assertive case, an entirely redesigned bracelet and more luxurious finishing. Its original Rolex warranty card is not merely a document accompanying the sale. It gives the piece a date, a point of departure, coherence and the traceability collectors particularly value on early examples of a model that has now left the catalogue.

On the wrist, the 40 mm case creates a clear presence without becoming excessive. The stronger shoulders of the case give the watch an impression of solidity, while the black bezel visually contains its volume. It feels dense, precise and constructed to accompany movement, yet retains enough sobriety to slip beneath a cuff and remain coherent within a professional environment. It is a sports watch that does not necessarily require sporting clothing.The black Cerachrom bezel lies at the heart of this discretion. Where two-colour bezels immediately tell the passage from day to night, this monochrome version prefers a calmer reading. Black extends the dial, reduces visual interruption and gives the watch an almost continuous presence. The 24-hour graduation remains perfectly legible without ever dominating the whole. The function remains available without becoming demonstrative.This bezel also marks an essential stage in the history of the model. The 116710LN was the first steel GMT-Master II to receive a Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert, combined with a newly designed generation of case and bracelet. This evolution brought greater resistance to scratches and colour alteration than earlier aluminium inserts, while giving the watch the deep brilliance characteristic of modern Rolex professional models.

Then the eye meets the green GMT hand.

It does not seek to occupy the entire dial. It appears, crosses the markers, reaches the 24-hour scale and recalls the watch’s true purpose. Its triangular tip follows a reference time over twenty-four hours, while the conventional hour hand retains local time. Green also appears in the GMT-MASTER II inscription, creating a discreet visual signature immediately recognised by those who know the reference.This touch of colour contributed greatly to the character of the watch. Green is present enough to distinguish the 116710LN from a conventional black watch, yet restrained enough to preserve its elegance. It becomes particularly visible when light reaches the dial, then almost disappears in a darker environment. The watch therefore changes in perception without changing in nature: restrained at first glance, more singular when one takes the time to observe it.

The GMT function turns this elegance into a genuine practical advantage. The green hand circles the dial once every twenty-four hours and allows the wearer to retain home, office or another country’s time. The local hour hand can be adjusted independently in one-hour jumps without stopping the movement or disturbing the minutes. The bidirectional bezel makes it possible, when required, to read a third time zone. The complication remains intuitive, rapid and perfectly suited to travel, international relationships or a life shared between several cities. This ease genuinely changes the way one travels. On arrival, the local hand simply moves forward or backward to match the visited country. The green hand remains connected to the reference zone. The date follows local time and the eye immediately retains two points of orientation. In an airport, hotel, meeting or during a call abroad, the watch provides information without requiring a phone. It keeps a simple, almost reassuring continuity on the wrist.

The history of the GMT-Master began in the mid-1950s, when Rolex developed a watch allowing long-haul flight crews to follow several time zones. Adopted notably by Pan American World Airways crews, it became one of the great watches of civil aviation and accompanied an era when crossing continents transformed the perception of distance. The GMT-Master II later extended this story through an independently adjustable local hour hand, giving travellers far more direct freedom in setting the watch.

The reference 116710LN carries this heritage forward without attempting to imitate the aesthetics of the earliest GMT watches. It belongs fully to its period. The Maxi Dial enlarges the reference points, the ceramic bezel modernises the construction, the bracelet gains density and the case asserts its presence more clearly. Beneath this evolution, however, the logic remains unchanged: retain a reference time, read local time and preserve a connection with another point in the world.

The Oyster bracelet with polished centre links gives this GMT a more luxurious dimension than previous generations. The brushed surfaces preserve the professional spirit, while the polished centre links catch the light and allow the watch to move naturally from travel to city life. The Oysterlock clasp secures closure and the Easylink system offers a rapid extension of approximately 5 mm, particularly valuable when the wrist changes with heat, altitude or the length of a journey. This construction explains part of its versatility. With denim, a polo shirt, blouson or travel jacket, the watch preserves its sporting character. With a shirt, suit or more formal clothing, the black bezel and polished bracelet give it a more refined presence. It never attempts to become a ceremonial watch, yet easily accompanies settings in which a more colourful GMT might appear more demonstrative.The Rolex calibre 3186 automatic movement directly supports this ease of use. It operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, has 31 jewels and offers an approximately 48-hour power reserve after full winding. Its Parachrom hairspring and chronometer-certified architecture favour stability, precision and resistance to daily constraints. The independent hour hand forms the practical heart of the calibre, allowing local time to be changed without interrupting the watch’s operation.

This movement belongs to an important generation of Rolex calibres. It retains the power reserve and frequency of the professional movements of its period while offering particularly fluid control of the GMT function. It does not seek to reveal itself behind a transparent caseback. It works in the background, protected by the Oyster case, with the quiet regularity that keeps the watch available when a journey begins, a time zone changes or a day continues longer than expected.Production of the 116710LN extended from 2007 to 2019. Its withdrawal from the catalogue ended the presence of this steel GMT-Master II with an entirely black ceramic bezel and gradually strengthened its interest among collectors. During production, it often represented the most discreet version of the range. Since discontinuation, that discretion has become a singularity, because the reference belongs neither to the aluminium generations that preceded it nor to the two-colour bezels that now dominate the GMT-Master II imagination.

Its status as a discontinued model changes the way the watch is perceived. It is no longer simply the black alternative within the catalogue. It now represents a precise period in Rolex history, the transition to ceramic, the early six-digit steel cases and a visual language in which green signed the GMT function without changing the bezel. Its present success rests largely on an identity that can no longer be ordered new.

From a collector’s perspective, this 2008 example possesses particularly attractive coherence. The M-series places it early in production, the original warranty card documents its history, and the black configuration preserves the signature that built the model’s character. This is not a GMT sought for a spectacular variation or an officially limited series. Its prestige comes from a balance that has become rare: a modern, technical and recognisable watch still capable of remaining discreet.The original 2008 warranty card reinforces this interest. On a discontinued Rolex professional watch, this document places the piece within its period, confirms its original sale and preserves an essential part of its journey. It gives the watch a more complete dimension, particularly valuable for someone wishing to integrate the reference into a collection rather than merely wear it as a travel watch.

Wearing a black GMT-Master II with a green hand today means choosing a Rolex whose personality does not reveal itself from across the room. The case, dial and bezel first create an impression of control. Then the green hand appears, the function becomes clear, the date beneath the Cyclops recalls daily usefulness and the polished bracelet gives the watch a more urban presence. It accompanies travel without looking like travel equipment.This discretion allows it to become an almost unique watch within a collection. It can be the only Rolex worn every day, because it brings together robustness, date, second time zone and elegance. It can also sit between a Submariner and a more colourful GMT, providing a different reading of the professional watch. It does not replace historical references; it tells the moment when Rolex brought them into a new technical era.

This example is offered as a 2008 M-series Rolex GMT-Master II 116710LN, accompanied by its original Rolex warranty card and sold pre-owned by Mostra. The watch has been carefully inspected in our workshop in order to provide a transparent reading of its condition, operation and coherence. A particularly interesting piece for someone seeking a discontinued GMT-Master II, restrained in colour, immediately recognisable through its green hand and positioned within the early years of a generation that has become emblematic.

Choosing a Rolex GMT-Master II from Mostra requires a precise perspective. Each watch is selected with more than 40 years of watchmaking expertise, with attention given to authenticity, actual condition, movement, dial, bezel, bracelet and documentation. This GMT-Master II 116710LN has been fully inspected, authenticated and prepared so that it can be worn with confidence. You benefit from personalised guidance as well as a 3-year Mostra warranty, a strong commitment reflecting our confidence in the watches we offer. Mostra is built on a lasting relationship with its clients, supported by 5-star Google reviews and regular recognition within the specialist watch press. A watch such as this is chosen for its black bezel, green GMT hand, M-series production, original card, discontinued status and the quality of the perspective applied to it before acquisition.