Rolex Coke Watches

Rolex Coke: Overview & Key Specifications

If you want to understand the specifications of the Rolex Coke, you must look at why the company manufactured and launched this model. The Rolex Coke was the first of the GMT-Master II series, which introduced a function that changed how travelers used their watches. And that change was the independent adjustment of the hour hand.

Model Description and Naming

The nickname “Coke” comes from the community. The name has nothing to do with Rolex itself. The watch has a bi-color bezel divided horizontally. The top half is black, which represents night hours, and the bottom half is red, which shows day hours. So, this combination looks exactly like the colors on a Coca-Cola bottle. The watch competes with other soda-themed models like the Rolex Pepsi (blue and red) and Root Beer (brown and gold).

In addition, this watch was a leap forward when it comes to functionality. For instance, the GMT-Master II allowed the wearer to move the 12-hour hand forward or backward in one-hour jumps without stopping the second hand or moving the 24-hour hand. And this is quite different from the older GMT-Master. Therefore, the GMT-Master II would allow the pilot to change the local time after landing in a new city and keep his or her home time accurate on the bezel.

Technical Specifications

All Rolex Coke watches share the fundamental features, such as the case size, movement family, bezel type, complications, etc.

• Case Size: The Rolex Coke watch has a classic 4mm Oyster case. 
• Material: The company has made this watch from sturdy stainless steel material called Oystersteel (904L or 316L, depending on the era). 
• Bezel Type: It has a bidirectional rotating bezel with a 24-hour scale. The insert is an anodized aluminum, which can fade over time. 
• Crystal: The Coke model has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with a Cyclops lens over the date.
• Water Resistance: The Twinlock winding crown ensures water resistance up to 100 meters or 330 feet. 
• Complications: It has a date window at 3 o’clock, local time, and a GMT function for tracking a second or third time zone. 
• Dial: Most variations of the  Coke watch have a glossy black dial with gold surrounding the hour markers. 

Main Variants

If you are searching for a Rolex Coke, you will find two specific reference families. The first one is the reference 16760, also called the “Fat Lady” or “Sophia Loren.” The company launched these watches between 1983 and 1988. So, this is the original Coke model, which came with the red/black bezel and houses the Calibre 3085. The most distinguished feature of this Coke model is its thicker case, which is approximately 12.6mm, and the larger crown guards. These early models have a “Date” only dial.

Another reference family is 16710, launched between 1987 and 2007. These models are the slimmer and more common versions with 12mm thickness and updated Calibre 3185. However, models launched between 2005 and 2007 have Calibre 3186 movement. The early models of 16710 reference use Tritium (marked T<25), transitional watches use LumiNova, and later ones use SuperLuminova.

Moreover, you will find these variants on the sporty 3-link Oyster bracelet, but watches with the dressier 5-link Jubilee bracelet also exist. Pre-2000s models have hollow end-links, which were lighter with a rattly vintage feel. On the other hand, post-2000 models have solid end-links, which feel heavy and strong.

Rolex Coke Prices: Retail vs Secondary Market

You can’t just walk into a boutique and buy a new Coke. So, the secondary market entirely dictates the price of this watch model.

Secondary Market Price Overview

The value of a Rolex Coke depends on the “sharpness” of the watch. Collectors usually pay a premium for unpolished cases where the chamfers, which are beveled edges on the lugs, are still crisp and original. You can expect to pay between AED 51,500 and AED 75,000+ ($14,000 to over $20,000). The Fat Lady reference 16760 is rare and starts from AED 60,000+ because Rolex made this watch for fewer years. In addition, the condition of the watch determines the secondary market price. For example, a scratched bezel insert is okay and sometimes desired for character, but a polished case with thin lugs can decrease the watch’s value.

Official Retail Price List

There is no official retail price for a Rolex Coke now. However, we can give you context about how the vintage Coke compares to the modern ceramic GMT-Master II models.

Rolex Coke as an Investment

The Rolex Coke watch is a safe investment because it occupies a good spot among neo-vintage watches. The company has never released a ceramic Coke, so this keeps the desire for the aluminum 16710 and 16760 very high. In addition, these watches have historically increased in price. For instance, an original 16750 from the 1980s cost $800, but its successors trade for 20x that.

Besides, the Calibre 3186 is an important factor. If you find a very late 16710, such as a Z-serial or M-serial, with the Calibre 3186 movement and the “stick dial,” where the Roman numerals II look like II rather than stuck together, the investment value increases significantly. So, most collectors go crazy go these “error dials” or “transitional models.”

Authenticity, Certification & Warranty

Buying a vintage watch requires caution. Although counterfeiters are good, there are ways to ensure you are getting the real deal.

• The Movement: A watchmaker should open the back. The Calibre 3185 is a workhorse. The “seconds” hand sweeps smoothly (8 ticks per second) on a real Rolex. 
• The Hand Stack: The hand stack order is vital on a GMT-Master II. So, it should be: Hour hand (bottom) followed by GMT hand, then Minute hand, and “Seconds” hand. Thus, this specific order applies to the Calibre 3185 and 3186. The older 1675 had a different stack. 
• The Wiggle Test: When you adjust the hour hand on the Calibre 3185, the GMT hand might “wiggle” slightly. Rolex fixed this problem on the newer Calibre 3186. 
• Serial Numbers: The company has engraved the serial number between the lugs at 6 o’clock on older Coke watches. You must remove the bracelet to see it. On the other hand, it is usually on the rehaut, which is the inner bezel ring, on very late models launched after 2007. 

There is no original 5-year Rolex warranty because these are pre-owned watches. The best warranty you can get today is a recent Rolex Service Center (RSC) card, which proves the watch is genuine and gives you a 2-year service guarantee. All Coke models are Superlative Chronometers, certified to run within -2/+2 seconds per day. Moreover, if you buy a Rolex Coke from Watch Maestro, we will give you a limited one-year warranty.