This replica GMT-Master 16720 40mm comes from the last chapter of the original GMT-Master production run, a period when the reference sat alongside early GMT-Master II models in authorized dealer cases. The 40mm Oyster case houses an automatic GMT movement with a date complication at three o’clock. An aluminum bezel insert carries the 24-hour graduation in a red-and-blue “Pepsi” or single-color configuration depending on the variant, though this particular reference centers on the black-dial execution that defined the everyday wearer’s choice during the 1990s.

Case & Movement Specs

• Case diameter: 40mm
• Case construction: Oyster, screw-down crown
• Bezel: aluminum 24-hour bi-directional
• Crystal: sapphire flat with Cyclops lens
• Dial: black, applied luminous markers
• Movement: automatic with GMT function
• Water resistance: rated for daily wear

Rolex introduced sapphire crystal on the 16720 midway through its production, replacing the earlier acrylic versions. That single change improved scratch resistance dramatically while keeping the same case geometry and dial layout.

Caliber Breakdown

The movement inside the 16720 links the 24-hour hand directly to the main gear train, which means setting a second time zone requires turning the bezel rather than adjusting the hour hand independently. This older architecture has a mechanical simplicity that later GMT-Master II calibers traded away for added functionality. The quickset date still operates through the crown, and the hacking seconds feature allows precise time synchronization. To see how the same 40mm case translates with a gold-and-steel treatment, check the black-dial 116718 for a direct contrast. Both belong to the GMT-Master collection, separated by a generation of mechanical and material evolution.

How It Compares

Against the current catalog, the 16720 reads as deliberately understated. No ceramic bezel, no Jubilee bracelet option, no independently adjustable hour hand. That stripped-back character is precisely the appeal. The thinner profile and drilled lugs give it a look that modern references cannot match, attracting buyers who value the original GMT-Master silhouette. This replica GMT-Master 16720 40mm puts that late-production heritage on the wrist in its most recognizable form.